TWW Race Reports

Check out our antics at the races!!! Or if you're having trubble sleeping...

Tuesday, October 31, 2006

Another Surf City CX #2 report-Scott Schlachter


Sunday I brought my dad with me, and headed down to Watsonville on Sunday a.m. for another 30 minutes of suffering with company. It was really fun though - the Bellas did a really great job with the course (loved the spiral thingy), the decorations, and running another great event. Big thank you again to Matt for loaning me his bike again. I think it really paid off on this course - as it was definitely a faster course then the first one.

Not to sound too much like a chick, but I always seem to struggle with what to wear for these things. During practice, I wore a windbreaker over a longsleeve jersey over a shortsleeve jersey, and I was still cold in sections. In the end, about 5 minutes before our start I decided to go for just the TWW DH jersey - long sleeve, but not as thick as the long-sleeve TWW XC jersey that I got a few (3?) years ago. Similar to the first race, I found that if I just downed a bunch of water right before the race, I didn't need any more for the race, so no worries about not having any pockets.

I lined up about 2-3 rows back, which turned out to be fine. I find that I seem to do a lot of passing right away, but so far these courses seem to be OK for that. The course was fun, starting right off with a trip through the obstacle-graveyard and the blair witch spiral, then a little DH section to the one big climb (bigger then any from the last race). Then after that climb that one short hill that was totally rideable if you just tried. Then a lot of flats. I managed to gain ground in the flats on my first lap, and going into the 2nd lap I managed to catch the lead group. At one point in lap 2, I'm pretty sure I was in 2nd place.

I seemed to blow up a little after lap 2. Going into the flat section about half way through the third lap, suddenly I experienced something that also happened to me towards the end of the first race - some sort of asthma-like attack. Very strange. I suddenly was having a very hard time breathing, and had to consciously take slow deep breaths for about 30 seconds. After that, I brought my intensity down a little, and I was fine, but feeling like I was in survival mode. My mind drifted, and as I approached the finish line I wasn't sure if there was another lap to go! I know it sounds stupid, but I was blurring my first race lap with my practice lap... 20 yards from the finish 2 guys passed me from behind. I realized my mistake too late. I stood up, but couldn't quite catch the 2nd guy. A lesson learned for sure - keep track of your laps!

And, once again - that was about the hardest 30 minutes ever. I think I'd have really struggled with the 5 laps/45 mins that the A's and B's did. Kyle, Matt, and Jeff, you guys are studs...

All the shouts of encouragement during the race from Gin, Dawn, and others were great. It really helps mentally to have other teammates and friends present and encouraging you - for me anyway. I passed Matt’s bike back to him, changed, and stuck around long enough to shout at Hane to go faster on a couple of his laps before checking my results and taking off. I'm now not sure if I was looking at the results of the first race or not though – if not, then coincidentally I got 5th again, and one of the guys (4th place) who sprinted passed me right before the end was in my class and had apparently done the same thing to me in the first race. I guess I'll find out for sure when they post the results.

I also chatted a little bit with Dave from Vanderkitten before taking off. It was Dave who loaned me his Ahrens Apex free-ride-hard-tail bike for the CCCX DH#2 race a while back. He and his wife own Vanderkitten (www.vanderkitten.com), pretty cool women’s clothing company - seems to fit the Bella style perfectly, and a good fit (haha) to have them be one of the race sponsors. That new Ahrens Apex that they got for Dave's wife had a sweeeeet paint job for sho.

I'm hooked on this series, so I'll see ya'll at #3 on the 11/12.

-Scott

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Monday, October 30, 2006

Surf City CX #2


So Katie and I showed up in the parking lot at about nine to find Kyle and Gin hanging out in the parking lot. We walked over to try and catch the end of Scott's sandbagging C race, but we just missed it. After chatting with him for a bit, he handed my bike back to me and I went and registered. I saw Bob finish his race up and pointed him over to where the rest of the TWW crew was hanging out.

Kyle and I went out for a quick warm up lap, only to find out people weren't kidding when they said that the long, gigantic run-up was tough. (Although, after the race, Katie was telling me it looked like this cross thing looks like a lot of fun. Then I showed her the hill. Her response was, "Well, it would be easy to go down." I looked at her like, are you crazy! Maybe its time to get her a DH bike and a CX bike! Oh, and a cute pink rock lobster road bike, she really like the pink rock lobsters.)

So Kyle fiddled with Heather's bike for a little bit while I took another warm-up lap. I headed over to the line and waited around with the rest of the roadies that work harder at getting a better starting position than they do during the entire race. Kyle and and I were sort of in the second and a half row when the whistle blew. We took off, probably in about 15th or 20th place. I feel like I kept up with the leaders and got a really good start. Over the barriers, and through the blair witch swirly I still had the leaders in my sights. But once we hit that crazy run-up, it was a different story. Kyle came charging up past me and I figured that was that. Here is where my race goes downhill and everyone starts passing me.

I kept Kyle in my sights through out the rest of the lap and managed to pass him as he was trying to put his bottle back in his jersey before the swirly on the second lap. I hit that swirly and felt really good. I started catching and passing people and just kept reeling people in. And this time, no Kyle charging past me up the hill. I have to give a big thanks to Jeff and Shannon. They kept yelling at me up the hill and it really drove me to try to catch people. Oh, and it was funny to see Jeff yelling at me as I rode up one little technical thing, "Yeah, that's how you do it, yeah Matt! Now go catch that guy!" Everyone kept dismounting it and sort of walking it, tired from the run up. Wussies.

After my third lap, I took a water hand off from Katie, and back at it. I sort of dropped the hammer and caught a few more people during the lap. But at the end of the 4th lap, I had three guys on my ass. I increased my lead a little over the barriers, and through the swirly. But on the back end of the course on the flats, two of them passed me. Luckily, they were both Junior As. I saw the big Sycip guy up ahead, so I hit the gas for the last few hundred yards. I managed to pass him, and almost catch one of the Junior As, but not quite.

Anyway, 25th out of 49. Way better than last week. I had a blast, and managed to be competitive. I wonder how I would have done if I had to do a 6th lap. My race was only 44 minutes this week, and last weeks was 51 minutes. Who cares, I'll take the solid midpack finish in the Bs. I guess my next goal is a top 10. I think its within reach by the end of the season. I'll have to wait until the results come out, but I was 4 minutes behind the leader (last week it was 6).

Thanks again to all the Bellas and everyone who helped out for another awesome race. See every at McLaren Park in SF next Sunday.

Matt

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Wednesday, October 25, 2006

Pilarcitos #2 Race Report by Matt Leonard


Man, what a great day. It was so nice not to have to get up super early and drive an hour and a half to a race for a change. I showed up at candlestick around 11 and ran in to Bob who had already finished his race. After I registered I went and rolled around the course to check it out.

Jeff came up behind me and chatted for awhile (weren't you supposed to be racing!) I hung around a little bit longer and ran in to Rob and Steve who bought kits at the sea otter. It was nice to have some other TWW jerseys out there in the Bs. Anyway, we went and warmed up during the mens A race for awhile then headed over to the start.

I lined up about midpack this weekend, much better than at soquel. The guy said go and I felt like I actually got a good start. I'm a little nervous in the crazy tight group like that though. I am reluctant to pass for fear of causing an accident, so I just sort of settle in until the group thins out. But once we got going, I felt like I was in a good spot. I was riding with a webcore guy and one of Isaias's Ritchey buddies for about the first lap and a half.

I ended up dropping my chain somewhere in the second lap and a huge group went by which sucked. But I got back on and caught up to most of them, even passing a few. But, that didn't last long. I dropped my chain at least 2 more times and never was able to catch up to anyone.

I figured when I came across the line, I was dead last for sure. But people kept telling me there were people behind me. Didn't feel like it. After looking at the results, I was dead last on the lead lap. So not too bad considering I had a few unplanned stops during the race. All in all, it was a good time. I feel like I'm in the right category if I'm not getting lapped. And if I can keep my chain on and not flat, I think that will get me closer to midpack. Not too bad considering to top couple guys or so are cat 1/2 roadies.

Thanks to Julie for the water, and to Jeff and Paule for yelling at me for smiling. I got a few cheers from Isaias until the recovery drinks to precedent over watching the B race. Can't wait for next week.

Matt
38/44 6 laps at 51:08

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Tuesday, October 24, 2006

Quick Surf City #1 race report by Matt Leonard


I suck, should've raced C's and flatted on top of it. Oh well, I'll stick to the B's since I like to sleep in. It was fun heckling Scott, unknowingly in front of his dad and uncle. I think he kicked some C butt though, even with the laughing over the barriers as I yelled "Thats not running!!"

All in all it was a fun time. I ended up hanging out with Jeff and Shannon most of the afternoon. Bob was there early also, but both he and Scott had to take off shortly after their race. So I just had Jeff running around the course yelling at me during my race. Next up, pilarcitos #2 at candlestick point.

Matt



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Surf City CX #1 by Scott Schlachter (10/16)


Good stuff - the Bellas pulled off a very efficiently run and fun
race! There was an actual DJ spinning vinyl, if you can believe that.
Results posted quick. They were smart, and had a coffee vendor too.
Good coffee. (When Bonnie goes shopping, she buys sh*t. I buy the
gourmet expensive stuff 'cause when I drink it, I wanna taste it.)

I took the time to do three warm up laps before lining up. Definitely
helped me in the race (both warming up and learning the course). I
remember telling Bob shortly before we went off that I thought that the
course was a lot easier then what I was expecting. Very little
elevation to deal with. I was thinking 30 minutes on that was going to
be cake - but it wasn't! It worked me, bigtime. By about half way
through my 3rd lap, I was fatigued. This past 2-months I've had a hard
time getting my heart-rate up to 165 during rides (even when pushing
myself), but my average for the race was 170, and at one point I know I
was over 175. I've been caughing crap outa my lungs all day today
too... The end of the fourth lap was great - I sprinted to try to
catch a guy just in front of me - couldn't close the gap, but it turned
out he was in a different class anyway. I managed 5th out of about 27
in Mens C (all ages). I'm pretty stoked with that - feel a little like
a sandbagger, but it was only my 2nd cross race, and 2nd time riding a
cross bike, and these CX folks are pretty fit mofos, blablabla. My
time wouldn't have even put me in the top half of Mens B 35-44 though.
It seems to me like B's are Expert level, and C's are like a Beg/Sport
combo.

Matt, thanks again for loaning me your bike, and also the heckling at
the barriers - that made me laugh each lap, and helped my dad and uncle
to recognize me. And, also for the offers for water - I was thinking
about that earlier, and realized that I forgot to thank you for that as
well. I'm sorry that I couldn't stick around and return the favor, but
I'm glad to hear that Jeff did.

Good to see Julie (in one piece) and Paul, and a few other Meeces, and
Dawn and Sabine (the only Bellas I recognized).

I'm sold on the value of using a real cross bike for cross - that bike
hauled @ss! Argh - now I want a free-ride hardtail, and a cross bike...
Too many bike cravings, too small of a garage...
-S

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DFL#2 Race Report by Matt Leonard (9/21)


So after spending 10 minutes adjusting my shifters on tuesday night, I felt confident I wouldn't be dropping my chain. I showed up to the parking lot at the super secret undisclosed location and started getting ready. As I was pulling my bike (err, Isaias's bike) out of my car, the guy next to me, dressed in a hideous skirt, some sequin green top, a wig and a ton of red lipstick asked me if I'd ever been beaten by a girl. My response: plenty of times. Anyway, I went and paid my $5, since I refuse to wear a dress, and got my race number.

As I went for my first warm up lap, I noticed quickly how much more of a hilly course it was compared to last week. Also, a lot less barriers. I did about 3 warm up laps and went to figure out where the start was going to be. I lined up about half way back, but by the time everyone else showed up, I was probably in that last 20% of the group 80 or so people, way in back. So we started off, with the leaders already way out in front. I passed a good amount of people right way and quickly saw a Roaring Mouse jersey. Time to and push a little harder. After about a lap and a half, I passed Paul and Tim. I kept ahead of them for about a lap or 2, but they quickly brushed me aside and kept going as I wore myself out.

Again, I have no idea where I finished. No results or anything like that posted. But I do know that it took the leaders like 3 laps to lap me, and they only did it once. Not too bad compared to last week. Of course last week I probably spent at least 5 minutes fiddling with a dropped chain and other things. Only mechanical this time was a broken seatpost. After remounting right before a steap desent, I didn't get clipped in and hit this rut. I almost ate %$&, but managed to stay on and keep going. It was funny to think that I may just take a header, but then hear the crowds oohs and aahs as they looked in anticipation me bailing. So for half the race, I had to ride with a floppy seat. It didn't seem to affect things as it stayed in place, just sort of rattled around.

I think the highlight of the evening was launching myself off of a pile of woodchips. There were two piles of woodchips about 3 ft tall, that on the first lap everyone got off and ran over. On the second lap, I said to myself, I can ride this. So I dropped down to my little ring and started spinning like crazy, anticipating bogging down in the loose stuff. Well, it had all been packed down and I hit that thing going pretty fast. I launched a couple of feet in the air, landing at the base of the next pile. Man, scared the crap out of me. But once I realized I was still upright, I just kept hammering.

So good times. I got lapped by probably 10 people or so, and lapped 10 myself. So middlish of the pack I guess. What I need to think about as I start getting more in to it is realizing the race is only 45 minutes. I am pacing myself as if it were a 2 hour race. I need to stop resting on the decents and realize I only have 10 minutes left, not an hour and a half. Oh well, these first few races are just for fun, right? Starting next month, we'll see how I do in the B's. I guess I hope to just finish on the lead lap. But I also need to be more confident, start off closer to the front and push people out of the way when they are slowing me down on a run up, rather than walk behind them and rest. Its a race for cryin' out loud, get out of the way!! Can't wait for next week!

Oh, one other funny thing. It doesn't seem like Team Wrong Way is a family name in the world of cross. People comment and laugh about my jersey during the race, as if they have never heard of us. Sheesh. Well, I guess I am the poster boy for TWW SF CX. Don't know if thats a good or bad thing, but people are feeling the wrath of solid midpack finisher.

Matt


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Toro DH race #2 by Scott Schlachter (9/19)


Sorry - a bit busy yesterday and today. Heim was MIA on Sunday, but
I was very happy to see Bob out. We also had a lurker from the TWW
list, Daniel Abernathy (sorry if spelling is off) who not only came
out for what I think was his first DH race, but he was very fast,
and placed. Daniel suffered a heart attack only a few years back,
and send me a note when I was posting to the open list about my
cholesterol problems. Really nice, down-to-earth guy, and his story
is very insperational. Kathleen - you're friends with him, right?

My 5th in Exp Men 35-44 I think will still keep me in 2nd for the
points. My 3rd in the open HT class got me a medal, which is cool -
I raced on an Ahrens Apex hardtail, and whore an Ahrens jersey for
that run (Isaias helped me to get in touch with Mike Ahrens and Mike
was happy to loan me a bike for this). I must say, that he makes an
*awesome* HT frame. He got another one of his friends, Dave, to
loan the bike to me for the race. I'm hoping to do this for each of
the remaining races. 2nd place in the HT class was Menso DeJong,
the 17 yo boy wonder kid that has been joining us for our Weds rides
(he's a son of a coworker, and one of the Jr Expert XC kids on the
Santa Cruz Syndicate Jr. team). 1st in both the HT and the Mens Exp
35-44 was Keith DeFeibre, AGAIN (he swept both last race as well)...

-Scott

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DFL#1 Race Report by Matt Leonard (9/14)


So I made my CX debut last night at the first DFL race of the season. It was pretty much what I expected; a bunch of dudes in skirts kicking my ass. I got there early enough to do a warm up lap, but I realize now how important it is to actually study the course and think about which obstacles to ride over and where I actually need to get off. Also, thinking ahead to be in the right gear when I jump back on my bike.

I lined up towards the back 3rd of the pack and away we went. Oh yeah, there were probably 75 people there racing. Anyway, I started off and passed about 10 people right away, but it didn't matter too much. At the first little bit of single track, we were just stopped, waiting for people to line up and get by. After the first lap, things were going pretty well. I think I got lapped on the 2nd lap, but those guys had such a head start not having to deal with all the traffic jams. I feel like I am getting the hang of things. My big hassle was my chain fell off about 5 times. Time for a little bike maintenance. I put new cables and housings on, but I think the cables have stretched a little and I need to tighten them up and adjust the limit screw on the front derailleur. Anyway, after about 4 or 5 laps and 46 minutes, I came through and thought I heard someone say "those guys are done", but people kept going. So I figured I would just go for it and do one more lap, just in case. I think I didn't need to, since there was only one guy behind me after I came in, but oh well.

Results: Who knows, I got passed a lot, but passed a lot of people at the same time. Definitely need some more practice on my dismounts. I feel like I can only dismount with my hands on the hoods. I need to practice not having to move my hands from the drops to the hoods every time I want to get off and run.

All in all, a good time. I ran in to Paul, Julie and Tim from Roaring Mouse, Jesse from Team Ritchey and Brian Rodgers from Sycip, who I met a the Mt Sutro trail work day. Brian said he used to ride with TWW a little while back, said he knew Nick. Nick who? Oh yeah, that concrete counter top guy! (One of these days I'll get you your trainer back.) Anyway, pictures are here. There's one of me at 97 of 141. Maybe one of you will decide to come and join me next week. Should be fun again. I should be there for sure, if nothing else, I forget to by a t-shirt before I left last night. Next time I I plan on preparing a little more, and by that, I mean bring beer. Hopefully that will get some of you out there on your bikes.

Matt

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TWW Race Reports to be posted here starting now


In an effort to reduce clutter on the TeamWrongWay.com site (and to help reduce my workload), we're going to put our race reports here. Exciting stuff. Idea blatantly stolen from my friend Sabby at Velo Bella. Thanks!

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