Roubaix Recap

Well i'm back from my 3 day stint in Louisiana. It was a fantastic weekend filled with seeing old friends, hitting up my old stomping grounds in New Orleans, and oh, yeah, doing a 100 Mile road race in the backroads of Louisiana!

I'd like to take a moment to mention a new vow I've took upon myself two weeks ago:

I, CJIA, hereby swear that I will not eat any bacon* until i win a bike race this season. I was hoping to wrap it up by winning the roubaix and then eating a plateful of delicious, delicious bacon, but alas, didnt quite happen.

Let me start off by saying that results aren't up yet, and i have no idea how i did. To be honest, in races like this- my main goal is to beat any teammates that are racing with me!


i got in on friday, put the bike together, and took it for a light spin to make sure it was ready for the abuse i was going to put it through in two days. so i rode over to Cooter Brown's with some buddies to have a few oysters and an Abita (how can you NOT?!)



as we were sitting outside eating raw mollusks, a cold front hit us- it got down to 34 or so- which i was totally unprepared for. I'm in New Orleans! why is it as cold as NY right now?? However, in the back of my head i was hoping the weather would be cold and miserable for the roubaix as this would be a distinct advantages for northerners like Tim and I. From what I heard about the races that went down in NYC this weekend, we northerners are just a little hardier about racing in nasty weather- (Congrats to my teammate Matt Richards on taking the win at the freezing, wet CRCA B race btw!)


The next day my buddy Luke and i headed to baton rouge to stay with some friend of my teammate, Tim, who had also decided to take on this race with me. after an awesome lunch at my friend's restaurant in Donaldsonville, we headed to Baton rouge.

As we prepped for the next day's race, we decided to bring extra bottles with us. we knew there were going to be feed zones, but didn't want to rely on them. That turned out to be a great idea. Tim also had the idea to unwrap all the clif bars ahead of time so that you didn't have to fuss with the wrappers during the race. (more on that later)



The next morning, we arrived at the hotel where the race was slated to start. there were tons of people- i believe both the A and B field had about 100 people in them (more of less). As Tim and I got ready for the race, I made every effort to pee as much as i could before the start. I ended up going about 4 times in 30 minutes, right up until baout 3 minutes before the start. it was going to be a long race, and i didn't want to stop to pee, or try and pee on the bike for the first time (i didn't want any body parts getting caught in my chainring, har har). The temp was at about 34 at the start but was slated to rise to about 65 later in the day. in weather like that, it's all about the base layer. in retrospect, the Helly Hansen base along with the long sleeve jersey was perfect for the race.



As the race started, the (really large) field was relaxed. I chatted with people who had come from various parts of the south to do this race. Everyone was pretty nice and it was a great way to start a long race. i made an effort to stay near the front to avoid any pile ups or trouble once the dirt sections came.

Note: The race was broken down as follows: there were three dirt sections (about 20 miles of un-pave') that started at around mile 27, 63, and 79. each of these sections had super steep, short (sub 1 mile) climbs full of loose gravel and other refuse.

As we can about 20 miles into the race, lo and behold, i HAD to pee again. I've got the bladder of a 4 year old girl. i quickly stopped and did my thing and started chasing. I hooked up with a group of riders and we rode to the first major dirt climb. as the climb started, i put my head down and just pedaled steady and consistently. being the "sprinter" (ie: shitty climber) i had relegated to the fact that i was going to get dropped on these sharp climbs. after about a minute, though, i looked back, and i had dropped the group i was with! my only guess is that #1 there isn't much to climb down south, so even though i might be a pretty terrible climber in the NY scene, i was faring well down there. #2- i definitely think cyclocross skillz were coming in handy on this ride- riding up gravel/dirt on a grade that steep is something you're more likely to see in cross racing, and it kind of felt like that. when you try and ride out of the saddle like you normally would up a hill that steep, your back wheel is much, much more likely to slip out.

This was getting ridiculous...



i kept riding along, hoping to catch a group and get a solid paceline formed. i rode with a few people and we picked up stragglers bit by bit. I eventually caught up with my teammate Tim, (who's as strong as a horse). i wanted to stick with him as we could work well together and play catch up.

We approached the second set of unpaved hills at around mile 63 with about 4 or 5 people. all of a sudden another super steep, windy, messy climb shows up. i start doing my thing again, pedaling along at the lowest gear, (thank god for a compact) and just concentrating on staying upright and not having to walk. I started pulling away from the group again, and all of a sudden was all alone. again!?

as i got to the top of the hill i started hitting the equally hairy descent. then i heard it- pssssssssst. a flat. after all that work!

i flipped the bike upside-down and changed the flat in about 2 minutes. jumped back on and kept going. about 10 miles later i caught up with Tim again. I kept biking along solo, catching people and trying to get a good paceline working. i ran into three dudes that looked like they were hurting, but we organized for a little while and i was able to rest as everyone shared pulls. I decided to keep pushing on, and as we hit the 3rd set of hills i took off again. i figured i should appreciate the fact that I'm a decent climber in SOME part of the country (just not the one i live in). at the third feedzone i saw luke who had been waiting to cheer me on. he's a great friend (and a crappy photographer).



The gravel was a killer. my lower back was hurting for most of the ride due to the crappiness of the roads (but hey, that's why we signed up for this, right? When it wasn't unpaved gravel, it was chip seal. Whenever you DID ride on nice asphalt, it was like you were riding on glass.

the last fifteen miles were the hardest. even with the four bottles i brought, i had refilled two bottles at the feedzones. i ran out of water with about 5 miles to go, but right before i did i slammed some espresso Gu for a little caffeine. after about 2 hrs into the ride, the unwrapped and broken up clif bar pieces in my back pockets has melded together to form a giant cliff-poop-turd-tumor. thats really the best way i can describe it. didn't stop me from taking a bite out of it- I'm just sayin'...

by the time i saw the sign for 1Km to go, i pushed as hard as i could- there was a guy behind me that i had passed a few miles back, and he was about 500m away, and i didn't want him to catch me at the end. i held him off and got to the finish. luke and our friends were there, and it was a pretty happy sight. i finished in one piece, had ridden well, and felt pretty good after the longest race I'd ever done.

After chugging two bottles of water i went back to the finish to wait for Tim to roll in- we were both happy we were finished. luckily- the finish was right by a huge local mexican joint. Some nachos, quesadillas, and a corona later, i was feeling much, much better.

Overall, this race was a ton of fun, and I saw some scenery that you just won't see anywhere else. Louisiana backcountry is devoid of the culture we're all exposed to daily- it's like you're in another country- or in an America from years ago that never quite changed with the times. it was really a great change of pace. The people are great, and it was fantastic to race with such friendly people. It was also a pleasure to briefly meet Randy, who had given Tim and I some great advice on how to race the Rouge. This race is one I'm definitely doing again, and its a great primer for Battenkill. I'm pumped and ready to go.

After the race we sat in a hot tub for 3 hrs, shotgunned a few cans of Tecate, and swung by raising Cane's (the race sponsor) for some chicken fingers. Is there a more fitting end to that kind of race? I don't think so.

Grant's tomb is next wk. hopefully the CJIA bacon strike will come to an end there.



*pork belly excluded from this promotion

Preparing for the Epic

Well, Training is back in full force. Resolutions have been made, workouts have been doled out by the coaches. Bikes, kits and other ostentatious bike stuff we don't really need has been ordered (that's probably the best part). It's time to put things in perspective- what are you shooting for? what are your goals? What races do you want to race in? win? place? man hug in a final sprint? It all comes down to preparation.

So what are CJ's goals for this upcoming season? Well, aside from the customary "lose 50 lbs," I'd like to at least place in a CRCA B race. Last year my goal was to win a C race, which happened- but there's a pretty big talent difference between those two fields. I have a feeling the B field is going to be pretty damn strong this year- it'll be interesting to see how the races unfold on both a team and individual level. I'd also like to place in some crits (and not crash in them).

While park races are great, they're training races. sure it's great to have your team win the B cup (which we'll be trying to do again), but I want to concentrate on a few big out of town races. I want to do some crazy races- I want to experience something new and great- I got a taste of that last season by doing races like Owasco and Battenkill. I'm looking forward to those races again.

I love the concept of a Roubaix-style race. It's great to do a race that causes you to suffer- not just in the "oh god this is a big hill" sort of suffering, but to endure the elements, rough roads, long distances- Races like that build character, you're proud for just finishing. When it's all done, you and your buddies are able to commiserate over a shared experience that was both fun and full of suffering. Even better- with a roubaix, you've just GOTTA chug a big ole' bottle of belgian when its done.



So Battenkill was supposed to be my first big race of the season- it's pretty early in the season (April 19), and its right smack in the middle of spring. a pretty epic race to be sure. I'm really excited to see how I do this year compared to last year's C race. If i learned anything with Battenkill last year, it's that it isn't over until the large, unattractive female screams into a microphone. Long, painful races like this play out differently than your standard park race- there's alot more drama to it (the good kind)

along the lines of Battenkill, I remember having read about a similar race down in Louisiana called the Rouge Roubaix. This race is the southern version of Paris-Roubaix ; A 106-mi suffer fest in the Backroads of Louisiana. We're talking Deliverance country here. Barely supported, 20 miles of unpaved roads, and short, very steep climbs on said unpaved roads.

I went to college down in New Orleans and was going there when I started riding road. If you can believe it, I was an even chunkier fred when I started out riding.

I decided on a whim to look into the Rouge roubaix and came across their site. I wanted to do a race that not many people up here had done- one that's a bit crazy and pretty, well, epic.



So I signed up last week and peer pressured two people (maybe 3) into going. It's going to be crazy.



The only problem is that this race is over a month before Battenkill. It'll be a great prep race for Battenkill- albeit longer and probably more painful. We'll be rewarded by a crazy night out in New Orleans, my old stomping grounds. I

So I'm full on training, and taking it as seriously as possible- I haven't eaten ANY foie gras since new years, and I've been laying off delicious, wonderful bacon based products. I've been hitting the Gym for the past 2-3 months, and I definitely feel the difference this time around. I've been hitting up squats, Deadlifts, leg presses, and some core/stability exercises. I'm hoping these help with my sprint. I'm going to get into Plyometrics soon as well (once i get the workouts), as I've been told over and over again that they're pretty essential to having a good "snap" in your sprint. I've also started getting longer rides in- Sunday we had our first ride to the Orchards. The race is less than two months away. Will we be ready? Will the yankees be able to hang with the Good 'ole boys? Will I be told I have a pretty mouth?

Yes or no, It's gonna be epic.

2007 in photos

More new year's filler!

no words- just photos this time.




Happy New Year, everyone! Time to go nurse my hangover...

Best/Worst

So 2007 is pretty much all done, and '08 is just round the corner. this time of year is the perfect opportunity for content-starved/lazy bloggers such as myself to use the new year as an excuse to look back on things. Hey, everyone's doing it, so i guess I'll jump on the bandwagon:

Today's installment- the best and worst of 2007! I'll use my very own narrow experiences with bicycle stuff to reign verdicts on them in an effort to show you that my opinion matters more just because I'm writing it down!

Big Ups to the following:

Chris King Headsets

photo courtesy of Liam "quiggles" Quigley

A friend of mine once told me, "Christophe, There's no such thing as bad head." While I would love to believe something like that, We've all had our share of skunky beer, Hummers with too much teeth, and Cane Creek Headsets. I had one of those on my cross bike and It didn't really last through one season of cross. I slapped on a pretty gold Chris King and I haven't thought about my headset since, except to drool over how nice it is. Headsets work best when you don't notice them. and Chris King wins.


Probikekit.com

So I've got a little bit of a hard-on for European things. I like campy on my bike, I like Sidi's on my feet, and I like to ride Fondriests. while that MAY make me a pretentious and mildly idiotic Cat 4 who really has no need for that kind of stuff (that's not the argument here), that's how i roll. However, Campy and Sidi's are expensive. then about a year ago someone got me in on Probikekit.com-
can you say full campy chorus gruppo for a grand? thanks! This shop out of the UK seems to get fantastic pricing on all euro goods, even when you take into account the terrible currency conversion rate. I just splurged on a campy gruppo the other night for the new team bike that's on the way (more on that later), and I couldn't be happier. So, if you're addicted to ostentatious, pretty, expensive European bike components, head over there.

Assos Chamois Cream



No old news here- this stuff is the buttcream of the gods. The minty tingle lets you know its working.

Cadence (our new sponsor bike shop)



If you live in NYC and haven't checked out this new shop yet, you should. You're not going to find a nicer store anywhere in the city. The space is great, the bikes are beautiful, and the mechanics are fantastic. They've got 30 or so networked computrainers that get put to good use, and a whole list of services you're not going to find anywhere else. We've used their compu-trainers for rainy day/winter rides and its nice to be able to ride with your teammates when its nasty outside. It's simply a fantastic (albeit expensive) shop. They've even got a cafe' in the friggin' store! if you've got the scrilla, stop by there.

The Mitchell report.

So I get a fair amount of crap from coworkers and non-cycling friends about the sport that I'm a part of. It usually goes something like this:

"cycling? oh, everyone in that sport is a doper! Hey, did you watch the game? it was so sick. has some real talent on the field!"

aside from the fact that the only real athletes on a baseball field are the pitchers and catchers, I think fans of american spectator sports had been on a sort of high horse amidst all the cycling doping scandals that wrecked the sport.

Enter the Mitchell Report.

I haven't had that "every cyclist is a doper" conversation with any fan of American sports ever since that report came out. I think doping in a sport is terrible, ruins a sport, and needs to be exposed so it can be cleaned up, but I'd be lying if I said I didn't get any satisfaction out of the fact that the report makes their arguments hypocritical in nature. I can't wait to see if they have an equivalent investigation for pro football- that would be interesting...

Booo to the following:

Campagnolo

Their spare parts, more specifically. Don't get me wrong- I love campy. I love the way it works, how it shifts, and how pretty it is. What i don't like is how everyone acts like campy is totally rebuildable, and easily done so. I've gone through three sets of chorus shifters THIS SEASON (thanks to all the dudes that like to fall in front of me during crits for no reason- i'll bill you next time). While the Internals are in fact replaceable and rebuildable, the actual housing and levers are not. what does that mean? well, when you crash, the housings an levers take the hit. So here i am with 2 sets of un-useable campy shifters that have perfectly good internals.

Furthermore, Campy sucks when it comes to spare spokes for their wheels. They make fantastic wheels- I have a pair of Campy Eurus's and think they're fantastic. the bearing are great, and the wheels never go out of true. Except for crashes. I've snapped spokes on these a few times, and each time it was a huge pain in the ass to find spokes. it's not that campy doesn't sell the spokes- it's that campy likes to sell the spokes as kits of 20 for $200. they make far fewer single spoke kits. Calling Campagnolo was about as useful as eating a hot fudge sundae before stage 3 at Green mountain. Good thing that Mike, The mechanic at Cadence, is resourceful- he was able to find the spokes after digging around a bit. He's the man.

Runners/pedestrians in central park

"Hi! I'm a runner! I like to jog around the loop in central park. my favorite part about it is how I'm just able to run without being aware of my surroundings- I'm important and so is my exercise- so why should i stay in the runners lane? my fitness transcends "lanes." Running is about being free and meandering around regardless of traffic behind you. even if the runner's lane is empty, i like to stay out of it because I'm an individual and don't like to conform."

you know the type- sometimes you catch those d-bags wearing shorts that make spandex look like a set of petty coats. I can't really understand why these guys feel like running in the runners lane isn't for them, but they sure love to get in the way. They're almost as bad as the self absorbed kamikaze parents that love to jaywalk into oncoming traffic with their babies in a carriage.

Floyd Landis

Well, he got a fair trial, and he was found guilty, so that's that. So Boo to you, Floyd. Even though he was found guilty, I think that some good came of the whole trial and ordeal. They found a ton of faults with the anti-doping process. I think the governing bodies and the general public has a better idea of what needs to be done to allow for a fair pursuit of a clean sport. It's a fine line to walk between a witch hunt and justice. I think cycling will start to take a turn for the better in the future (especially when compared to the other spectator sports, Ahem...)

That being said, I'm still selling the "Free Floyd" T-shirts, Except now I'm advertising them as "Ironic" T-shirts.

OK, enough angst- it's time for BBQ.

Last Laugh

I figure its best to have the last word with holiday wishes (that and I've been much too busy/lazy/corpulent eating Foie gras to actually be productive)

Happy Holidays! I hope all 8 of my readers has a great, safe, and tasty Holiday season filled with new bike gear. Watch out though- once New Year's passes, training is on.

-CJIA