Teamwork Pays Off

Saturday morning at first looked to be similar to many of our previous race days, as the rain started coming down just as I started loading up the SuperSix for the Greene County Road Race. For the WVU Cycling team, rainy race days have become the rule, not the exception, as many of our previous race weekends have had miserable weather at best. However, after crossing the state line into Pennsylvania, rainy skies turned into clouds, which turned into sun. It might be a good day after all.

While the stormy forecast might have scared off a few people, over 40 starters were present for the combined mens 4/5, 5 field. Racing for WVU was Kyle Kukieza and myself. Other familiar faces included the Dynamic guys, including president Todd Latocha. Once the race started, I found myself getting pushed to the back of the field from some eager Cat 5's. Although at this point all I wanted to do was sit in, I did not want to have to navigate through a field once the climb came up. With Kyle behind my wheel, I made a move to move back up to the top third or so and jumped back inside and stayed put until the climb. Once we started going up, I shortly found myself up at front with Todd by my side. Although him and I are relatively strong climbers, we didn't really push the tempo up enough to truly break away.

Cresting the peak, our tempo pace had split the leaders to about a group of eight, with one a bit off the front. Not being too overly concerned, our group worked well to slowly bring back the leader. The middle section of the course was mostly flat and rolling, and the group maintained a strong paceline throughout. Soon after passing the 27th mile, I took a GU to prepare for the hill climb carnage that would soon be upon us. The "tentative" plan of attack for the hill was to ramp up the tempo hard with Todd and try and stay away. In addition, Kyle would be blocking any attempt at a chase to bring us back in the end. Kyle graciously accepted the sacrificial role in exchange for a lead-out if the either the break didn't stick or happen.

As we hit the hit the noticeable part of the climb, it suddenly got real hot. Not knowing the climb length, I let Todd get a couple bike lengths on me in fear of blowing up. Unfortunately, the climb was much shorter than I anticipated and I hit the crest with a match or two that could have been used. Despite that, I was sitting 4th and riding solo and I knew I was likely the last person who got away. If I wanted to keep my place, I had to give it everything and hope Kyle was doing his job behind me. When I saw the 1 mile to go sign I found some extra energy and cruised to the finish.

As it turns out, Kyle was in a group of three behind me, doing his best to slow down the chasing pace. Once he knew I was clear, he was free to move and prepare for his sprint. Despite a mechanical not allowing him to sprint out of the saddle, he still won out and claimed 5th. In summary, it turned out to be a great day for racing and a perfect execution of team tactics (contrast to my last post!) allowed both of us to finish top 5.

Agony of the Teammate-less Racer

Let me preface this post by saying this is only my second season of racing, and the first season being fast-ish enough to really contend for a podium spot. Although that might just be the SuperSix.

This past Sunday was the road race leg of our home race weekend, following an awesome downtown crit in Clarksburg, WV. The road race course was about a 12.2 mile loop with some rollers and 2 climbs. The climbs themselves were respectable in terms of grade and length, certainly enough to break a C field. The morning of the race was certainly an adventure, as driving from Morgantown to Lost Creek in a thick fog got my attention up a lot faster than my coffee did. Fortunately, the race got delayed half an hour, which gave me some more time to digest my epic Black Bear dinner from the previous night. Very clutch. However unfortunately, our police lead cars did not show up in time and Todd had to drop out of the race to fill in.



Once the race started, Kyle and the NC State freshman set the pace up front at about 18 miles an hour for about the first 7 miles. Somehow they also managed to effectively block anyone else from attacking during this time. Once we got to the gravel hill I finally said enough is enough and launched an attack and drove up the pace. After hitting the descent, there was about 8-10 riders who could sustain my pace and I thought this would mean a break group would form.

Nope, huge wrong on that one.

I can't begin to explain how many people would not take a pull and just slowed the pace down. Not only did this let dropped racers back in, but relegated me to the back after a hard pull. Not much else happened the rest of the second lap, although the pace was at least above 22mph. Had a short conversation with Kyle just before the climbs, saying if we were going to make a gap, we had to do it this time. As we were getting ready to hit the gravel climb the second time I heard a scream from behind me. I didn't know what happened or how, but Kyle was down and out. Still, I attacked again on the climb trying to shed as much of the group as possible. Crested the peak with VT and App riders close by and this time I surely thought a gap could form.

Wrong again.

Once again, following the descent people would not pull. After some serious yelling and unkind words, people started doing work and an apparent break of 6-7 riders formed. This carried about until the first set of rollers came again and I found myself off the front after nobody followed my pull. I was not about to slow the pace down so I continued to attack. After maybe a minute a Navy rider pulls along side me and says "WVU, its just you and me." I was definitely ok with this and we started doing some serious work. This must have lit a spark up the chasing field as they caught back on after a couple miles and instantly shut the pace back down. Once again, the group increased to about 14 or so and I was getting pretty unhappy. I knew if I didn't get away for good on the climb this final time it would be a lot harder to post a podium finish. As with the previous laps, I put myself up front going into the gravel climb and gave it my all to get away. When cresting the top of the hill, I had maybe 10 seconds on 2nd, who undoubtedly had time on others behind him. Taking any and all chances to stay away, I hit the descent hard and fast giving my all to stay away.

Then it happens, caught by VT. But its the final stretch into the finish - He'll push on with me to the end right?

Again. No.

He sits up. App catches on. App sits up. Now the sprinters are all back in it. At this point I'm frustrated. The final mile is a mess of attacks and responses, and despite my efforts, the end of the race turns into a field sprint and I finish 8th.

In road racing, getting help from teammates is essential. Whither blocking, helping to launch an attack, or leading out, having help in the field is undoubtedly a difference maker. I learned this the hard way, watching other teams work together to take away my efforts. Some help blocking, and or sustaining and the race outcome is probably a different story. Hopefully next weekend with the C squad back in action, we can turn the tides and launch an attack that sticks.

A Big Thank You!

I would like to a big Thank You to the following businesses for donating gift cards to our on-site

fundraiser for Relay for Life.

Pathfinder

Tailpipes

Buffalo Wild Wings

D.P. Dough

I expect that I will be hearing back from all the other restaurants soon as well.

If you would be interested in donating to our Relay for Life team, click on the link below and

search for Morgantown Bike Club. The team is also open to anyone who would like to join so

feel free to do so. The more the merrier!

Donate here!

Midseason Road Summary

The 2011 race season for WVU Cycling is now fully underway with a mix of new and fresh faces and old veterans. Currently the team is 4 weeks into the road season and has seen performances from 11 racers. New racers to the team this spring include Jeff Beyer, Kyle Kukieza, Chad Jones, Dave Schnell and our Italian ringer, Marco Piccirilli. Also returning from Mountain season are first year members Mikaela Jaros and Steve (Sunshine) Kasberger. Returning for more are second year members Duncan Oliver, Jon Zerbe and myself. Longtime veteran Janel Nye has also made an appearance. Someday we may be joined by newly elected president Todd Latocha, but that remains to be seen.

Our first year guys have been a presence in the Mens D field, with Kyle and Dave consistently posting top ten finishes and Jeff not too far behind. Kyle also scored a big win this past weekend at the Duke Criterium, breaking away from the field on the second lap and staying away throughout.

In the Womens C field, Mikaela has been holding strong, gaining valuable race experience. Thus far, she has posted a huge win during the William and Mary Individual Time Trial, as well as 2nd place finishes for the William and Mary Road Race and Duke Criterium, and 3rd place finishes for the NC State Road Race and Criterium.

Representing the team in Mens C has been Chad and myself. Unfortunately Chad was caught up in a crash during the field sprint of the William and Mary Road Race and has been out of action since with a cracked rib. Hopefully he will be able to rejoin the team at some point before the end of the season. Meanwhile, I've been holding my own and finishing with respectable results. The highlight of which being a 5th place finish in the Navy Individual Time Trial.

Our lone mens A rider, Duncan has demonstrated that one doesn't need to follow a rigorous training plan to be fast. Driven by a goal of participation in Nationals in what will be his final race season, Duncan has performed admirably; posting consecutive 4th place finishes during the Duke Road Race and Criterium, a 6th place finish at the William and Mary Individual Time Trial, and a pair of 7th place finishes at the Navy Criterium and Individual Time Trial.

At the midpoint of the race season, Kyle, Mikaela, and Duncan will be looking to help solidify their position in the individual omnium standings, while everyone else will be aiming to get into the mix and make things interesting. The second half of the season will feature road courses with more climbs, which certainly plays to many of our racers strong points. Hopefully we will also see an increase in racers as the weather gets warmer and drives get shorter.

Ray's Indoor Awesome Park

The typecasted “DH guys” (Jared, Tyler, and Sean), me (Zerbe), and Sequoya took a trip up the Cleveland, OH to go to Ray's Indoor MTB Park this past weekend. It also turned into the Tour De Sheetz as we continued to visit at least 3 different Sheetzes (is that how you pluralize it?) on our journey up to the great brown north and back to Mo-town.

Well thanks to a few navigational errors and emergency bathroom breaks we got up there shortly after high noon to a packed, snow covered, and unorganized parking lot to heaven within a slightly run down industrial park. As I walked in I could hear angels sing as soon as I opened the doors. It eventually was drowned out by my verbal frustration at the line to the cash register, and my computer waiver form not getting accepted. Eventually we passed the guards, got a wrist band, and started shredding. Trying not to go too big too soon, we stuck to the beginners/warmup room and the xc loop at first. Then it was like being in the movie labyrinth - except no David Bowie and the creatures were replaced by little kids wrecking in front of you everywhere - because everywhere around every obscure corner was a new exciting area. They used every single square foot of that place! I felt like a kid trying to describe it to people – “They had jumps and berms and logs and an elevator and teeter-totters and a pump track and a foam pit….” In all seriousness, if you are a mountain biker of any skill level, you need to see this place with your own eyes. You also have to try and not be intimidated. There’s so many good riders there, most humiliating of all is the little kid on a bmx bike, hitting every jump so much smoother than me, or a crazy pool–like park area where everyone is watching as I attempt three failed wall rides. Probably the best part is the foam pit. I’m not much for tricks, but here’s a chance to try stuff you wouldn’t normally – especially since the consequences are minimal (like me landing crotch first onto my top tube). The best part is there’s a tv with a 30 second delay so you can watch yourself superman off the bike during a failed no-hander (Tyler), do a squirmish whip (Zerbe), or nosing it over the ramp (Hilty) – as you climb out of the foam blocks. Speaking of, thanks to my slight weight problem and my bike’s slight weight problem, I would bury myself everytime upon landing. Sequoya commented “Zerbe, you go deeper than anyone else.” Worst part of the foam pit is the kids, either the ones who think this is a wooden themed chucky cheese, or the ones who ride right up, cut you off in line, and flop in taking twice as long to get out or the way. Everyone laughed as I lifted the one kid in the air solely by his one arm, then he refused to take Hilty’s hand next time he was stuck. We did not take a camera, but I paid someone a hefty reward for catching a rare glimpse of Hilty mid-flight.

Next time we go this season (and there will definitely be a next time) we’ll have some crazy sick pictures….

Twitter

You can now follow us on Twitter @WVUCyclingTeam


We've been terrible about staying updated with the blog and telling stories about our race weekends, but we are busy students and the season just goes by so fast!

What jerseys can do for you (No, not New Jerseys)

Last night 3 experienced riders, and 3 new guys went on a WVU Cycling group ride to Sperm Loop, down 50mph, and back on Fort Martin. On Ft Martin road, we decided to teach pace lining, at a nice easy pace. All went well until the State Line, which is a decent little decline, with 2 perfectly placed potholes, which the lead riders did not point out. In any case, 4^th in line hit the holes, and went down at 25MPH (that’s what my GPS says I was doing at the time).

In any case, 2 teachable moments here.

1. Moving out the way of a hole is not enough notice to the people behind you. Point, or at least yell it out.

2. Sleeved jerseys will save your skin. No seriously. Jerseys are designed to withstand abrasion, as well as all those performance perks, pockets and style factor. Here are pics to prove it.

The shoulder of the jersey.	The rider's shoulder.

This was a 25MPH crash with a 50’ skid on pavement.