LEARNING SO-CAL

Last weekend i had my first so-cal crit, It was a learning experience.  After the race i learned from a teammate that many of the so-cal crits end in a breakaway which surprised me because a lot of the crits in the north country end in a field sprint, also it was a great time to learn about the people on my team and other teams that i will be racing with this year.  I learned people and how they react to situations and how they perform in certain situations, stuff that is valuable to know during the course of the season.  

The race was not as fast as i thought it might be, early on there where many breakaway attempts, but nobody had promising look until about 2/3 the way through the race then a break went up the road with the right mix of riders to succeed.  there where two of the major  teams in the race represented in the race therefore the impetus for the group to chase was not strong.  Through out most of the race i did a lot of work because i was under the impression that the break would be pulled back at only a 20sec gap, but this was not the case and i burned al my matches, so when i finally did figure out that the group would stay away i simply didn't have the pop to put in an attack that would put me in the front group.  I just tried to follow the final attack by Justin Willams of Rock Racing to contest the field sprint, but some things unfolded and my lead out fell through the pack as soon as Justin attacked, therefore putting me in 18th position for the finish. 

OH WELL THAT'S RACING!!!! 

ARROGANT BASTARD TRAINING CAMP

New team sponsors Pista Palace bike shop and  

Stone Brewing Co. present:

Arrogant Bastard Training Camp

DAY 1: 

We had the first day of training camp today it was interesting, as it always is to meet your new teammates.  With limited numbers we made it work, Paul Che, and Shane Lawlor joined myself and team director Justin Beope for a four hour cruise up Palomar MT.  the first part of the ride was at a leisure pace but as soon as we started to climb up Mt. Palomar the pace quickened and we where able to test each others strengths.  Today being the first day and limited turnout was very fun and successful, I expect tomorrow to be much better because we are combining training camp with the ever fast Swami's ride and more teammates should also be there!!

François Parisien

DAY 2:

The team did the swami's ride for the second day of training camp, even though all of us didn't do the long loop.  team director Justin and Paul Che had to cut out early, but Chad DeRosier and I continued on.  Thanks to former teammate James Gunn and François Parisien the long loop ride was very fast. even though the pace and the strain on the muscles was a lot it was excellent training especially for the 100+ mile road races that I will encounter during the season. We can mark this one up as another beautiful 80° day of training in beautiful San Diego!

Day 3:

Free Day, due to the conflicting schedules of the team we where able to do a ride of our choice today.  I started my ride with former teammate James Gunn and François Parisien and also some other strong guys visiting from Quebec.  half way trough the ride however i split from the group to take a scenic loop home, so i wouldn't exceed my hours for this week.  this week i was supposed to do 22 hours so if i would have continued to ride then i would have exceeded the 3 hour ride i was to do today to make that limit.  So i cut off and did the SDBC Saturday ride backwards back to my place.  That however lame it my have been was the Arrogant Bastard Training Camp!

Racing Blues

Its the time of the year right before the season, most of the racers around the US are starting to feel anxious to get into the racing season. personally i know that i am tired of training for the season and not being able to race on the weekends.  the season starts to come into full effect in the beginning of February, this month seems like it continues to evade me. yet it is still another month till the first race of the season, when  the season starts i know that everything will move at a much faster pace.  

From the month of Febuary to September there is more packed in the schedule than there are animals in the aquariums at sea world.  except for the month  of July which only has two large races one of which is in PA.  therefore it also makes it a busy month just not as many races, the ominous schedule proves one thing true for the upcoming season, the fact that i won't have much time at all!!!!

Damn the cycling coverage! cycling coverage just makes the blues of the ominous racing season even worse, as i was watching the coverage of last years paris Roubaix i was so excited for the season that i was literally bouncing of the walls. this is probably because my excitement for the 2009 season can no longer be contained.  in the upcoming season i will be racing in many PRO peletons and having some experiences that will be unmatched, YOU WOULD HAVE BLUES TOO!!!!!!!!!!

SCHEDULE AND RESULTS

SCHEDULE

SUN 25            CBR LONG BEACH 18th
SAT JAN 31 PO KIDS SB 28th

FEB

SUN 1 MOTHBALLS GOLLETA 12th

SAT 7 BOULEVARD CHULA VISTA DNF 3 LAPS
SUN 8 RED TOLLEY SD LAST
FRI 13-15 VALLEY OF THE SUN LAST,7TH
SUN 22 SNELLING RR SNELLING 7TH
SAT 28 MERCO GP MERCED CRASH

MARCH

 
SUN 1 MERCO RR MERCED 8TH
SAT14-15 TOUR DE MURIETA STUPID
SAT 20-22 SAN DIMAS SR

APRIL

SAT 3-5 SAN DIEGO CV OMNIUM
SAT 11 FORT IRWIN ROAD RACE
SUN 12 EASTER CRIT ONTARIO
FRI 16-19 SEA OTTER MONTEREY
SAT 26 DANA POINT GP

MAY

APRIL 29-03 TOUR GILA SILVER CITY NM
SAT 9 ENCANITAS GP
SUN 10 LA MIRADA GP

JUN EUROPE
JULY EUROPE
AUG EUROPE

SEP

SAT 5 SAN FRANCISCO TWILIGHT
SUN 6 ESPARTO TT
MON 7 GIRO DE SAN FRAN
FRI 11-13 CYCLEBRATION FOLSOM
SAT 19-20 CHICO RACES