Anthony D. Morrow
ADM
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Cerritos, CA 90703
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SoCal/Nevada 2006 Road Race Championships
THU, 22 JUN 2006

Race Recap
SoCal/Nevada 2006 Road Race Championships - Vandenberg AFB/ Pt. Sal Road Race
Masters 30+ - Saturday, June 17, 2006

Chris DeMarchi and I drove up to spend Friday night in Lompoc , a city just outside of Vandenberg Air Force Base. Lompoc is about three hours north from my house on a normal day, but being Father's Day weekend and Friday afternoon rush hour, it took us almost an hour longer to make it up. We'd decided to stay there the night before to avoid having to wake up really early to make the drive out on Saturday. Fighting Friday traffic was rewarded with a good night's rest and plenty of time to have breakfast and head out to the race for our 9:30 start time Saturday morning. My thanks to Chris for driving out and back.

Unbeknownst to the promoter, a running event was also booked on the roads of the base that morning. It caused registration to be moved down the road and delayed the start of races by 30 minutes. Chris and I were looking to get home sooner than later after the race, so the delay was annoying but livable; it certainly wasn't the first time a race had been delayed on us. Some guys were more annoyed by the news, likely because they could have used an extra 30 minutes of sleep that morning.

Chris, 35 this year, raced down a category so we could team up in the 30+ race. We decided this a couple weeks earlier when we also decided we would only do a Saturday race and skip racing Sunday, when the Elite 1/2 event would be held. We both figured the 30+ race, with two laps/74 miles, was much more our kind of race to do well in versus the Elite 1/2, three lap/109 mile, sure-to-be suffer-fest. It was also helpful to have the excuse to need to get home for Father's Day.

At registration, we spied the short list of names of racers who'd be joining us. Last year's defending champion, Karl "The Viking" Bordine (Labor) was on there, as was Brian "Turtle" Keate (Taylor Made), the 2004 champ. Also catching our attention were Dan Vinson and Josh Horowitz (Kahala/LaGrange), and Dirk Copeland (Calif. Giant). In all, there would be 28 guys making up the field.

Chris and I agreed our approach to the race would be patient and reactive. Unlike San Luis Rey, where we attacked early and put together a break, here we would sit in and let the race develop, covering the moves we figure would matter and looking for later-race opportunities if something good didn't already form. As we circled the parking lot to warm-up, we also came to an agreement with Dan and Josh that if the opportunity presented itself, we would work together to neutralize Karl. Yes, we fear "The Viking".

The race started with a right turn from the parking lot. It was 100 degrees back home on Friday and the sun was shining down on Vandenberg, too, but at a far more comfortable 25 degrees cooler with an ocean breeze in the air. Josh spent no time enjoying the weather or scenery. He rolled up the road quickly and I looked around to see if anyone would react. I spotted the anxious look of Brian and quickly calculated that if he went, others would follow knowing his and Josh's abilities. Seconds later, Brian was up and charging and I jumped into his tow. We made a left turn, then a right turn onto the 28 mile long out-and-back stretch where we caught up with Josh a few seconds later.

I looked back expecting to see at least one more and probably several other riders. The only thing I saw was lots of road between us and the field. Brian, Josh, and I began to rotate through fast and steady. I peeked back once more to see our gap had grown even more. So much for patience.

Our break was working very well. We pulled through evenly and made fast work of the rolling terrain. Both Josh and I watched the clock when we hit the turn-around, counting the time until we came up on the field. Our lead was about four minutes and our teammates, Chris and Dan, appeared to have comfortable seats at the back of the pack, allowing the others to try and chase.

Vandenberg is known for its coastal wind; starting as a breeze in the morning and picking up steadily into the day. The wind seemed to come from every direction this morning and I really started to feel it as we crested the feed zone climb and headed out on the 8 mile "runway loop". I kept up my end of the pulls but started feeling the efforts more in my legs and began second-guessing my decision to be in the move. Brian seemed to be having the best ride of us three at this point, powering through the flat loop and into the second and last lap. A motorcycle referee reported our lead was steady at about 3 minutes 30 seconds, giving us some hope that we might actually stay away.

At some point, maybe because of a longer pull than I should have taken, I was unable to recover in the rotation. I began to feel progressively worse overall, and with some specific soreness in my back from trying to keep down and aero out of the wind. At about a third of the way out, as the road pitched up, I couldn't hold on and began to gap off the back. Brian and Josh looked back but didn't slow, seemingly intent on keeping the pace. I assumed it was because they figured they still had a chance at staying away as a pair, rather than waiting for me. I later found out from Josh it was partly because they figured I was complete toast and no longer useful. I explained to Josh I simply needed some ease-off recovery time and could have kept going. With the kind of lead we had, my opinion was we could have taken some time to ease-up and keep it together. Instead, I sputtered and Josh and Brian started to roll away.

At this point, the motorcycle official reported back to the field that I had fallen off the break. Karl had some fun taunting Chris about having to now chase. Chris did just that; he took to the front of the field and laid down a wicked pursuit. The field, now just a group of nine, closed quickly on my position and I was caught about three miles from the turn-around. I latched onto the back and tried to recover.

I measured a two-minute lead for Josh and Brian when we saw them near the turn-around. The field kept a brisk pace, eager to bring back the rest of the break. In what would quickly turn out to be a foolish series of events for me, I exchanged pulls and attacks at the front of the group. Not fully recovered from my break effort, and then tested by the ever-growing speed, when the road pitched up again, I found myself falling off the back, unable to keep pace.

For me, the race was over except for finishing. Not finishing was an option, as I could have gone straight from the feed zone back towards the start/finish, cutting out the windy 8 mile loop. I sucked it up and decided to ride out the 15 or so miles left. After about ten minutes of slow spinning, I started feeling better and then held a steady pace to finish.

Alone, I was able to enjoy the weather and scenery, especially the nice coastal views. Chris, on the other hand, was still in the heat of the battle. He told me later that attacks started at the feed zone and Brian was caught there. Attacks continued through the rest of the race and the field eventually absorbed Josh at about 6 miles to go (so close, yet so far). Unrelenting, the attacks were taking its toll on the field but the riders somehow managed to stay together until about a mile to go. There, Dan Vinson and another rider attacked. Karl, Chris, and Dirk responded and the five were clear for the sprint.

Chris's efforts to chase had taken their toll. Dan, who had more time to rest because Josh was away so long, put in a final attack, popping Chris. Dirk led out the sprint and held it to the line. Karl was second and Dan was third. Chris was next for 4th, James Miller 5th, and Josh, despite his long break and then solo efforts, cleaned up the money spots in 6th. Brian fought on for 9th and several minutes later, I rolled in for 11th.
.

-adm
Maybe I need more rest?

Time Off For Bad Behavior
TUE, 13 JUN 2006

As usual, I went out to do Tuesday night racing at El Dorado Park. I was feeling a little tired from the racing this past weekend but mostly didn't want to be used up for the road race this Saturday, so I decided to skip my pre-El Do climbing ride. I felt fine going out to El Do but was very aware of the strong northeast winds that I was sure were going to make it a hard day.

A hard day it was. Once we started, I found myself struggling to keep near the front. I put in an effort and then really had a hard time catching my breath back towards the end of the pack. Near the back, the struggle was even worse, as I was forced to the edge of the road trying to keep a draft and out of the wind. It got only worse, as guys ahead of me started popping off, not able to handle the wind or the speed. I jumped across at least three gaps and was still with the pack, but fading. Then, a break of about 10 went up the road, not so much from an attack, but from simple winding up of speed. I couldn't believe whoever was up there let it roll off like that, but I also had no right or breath to complain. Within another lap, Jaime Paolinetti and another rider jumped the main field and jumped across to the break. Again, I couldn't believe they were allowed to roll away, and again, I was in no position to complain and had no capacity to do anything about it. I did try. I went to the front and tried to bridge. I failed and died quickly.

I spent about 5 more laps hanging on for dear life at the back of the pack. In spite of 12 riders up the road, whoever was at the front, whoever let the break and then two more get away, decided it was time to go fast and we were up to 32 miles per hour. I thought to myself, "a little too late." The wind was taking its toll on me and so was having to move around more guys who were dying off. I used even more precious energy trying not to crash as I kept in the narrow draft behind ever-more shaky riders and the side of the road. Eventually, I could take no more, and with about 10 minutes left in the race, I pulled out.

I felt so relieved and so frustrated after sitting up. I thought about what the heck went wrong and have decided I need rest. Real rest. No-ride rest. So, I'm taking the remainder of this week completely off the bike. I'll be back in the saddle on Saturday for the State Champ's Road Race at Vandenberg.

Quick recaps from this weekend's racing:

1. SAT, 10 JUN - San Fernando Criterium - Pro/1/2

We had a team of 7 but four of our guys already did the 35+ race earlier. It's a hard course that gets strung out most of the way. Karl Bordine went from the gun but we covered this and everything else well. About 1/3 into the race, a break of about 8 gets up the road and Nate's in it. I'm near the front and go with a Hi-Tech rider trying to bridge. We hit the u-turn at the bottom of the hill and I take a bad line, letting a gap go. I nearly get back on but start to fade, just as we approach the break. The Hi-Tech rider makes it on and I fail. Nate works the break and works a lot in the break. During the rest of the race, I try to get away with other breaks but nothing sticks. The rest of us watch as, near the end, the break almost laps us. I tried to get in the mix for the finish but just wasn't feeling it. Jared flies by me to the line and gets into the money at 14th. I roll in for 21st. Nate takes 7th.

2. SUN, 11 JUN - Glendale Grand Prix - Pro/1/2

This course had a big pothole in corner 2 last year that took out Steve. It was no surprise that he wasn't there to race this year, although I've no idea if this is why he wasn't there. Thankfully the pothole was filled in with concrete this year. We had a team of 7 again and no races beforehand. Early on, Chris got in a break with 3 other riders and the rest of us went to the front to control the pack. We did fine and so did Chris, but an SDBC guy in the break came off and it was all over for them after that. At least Chris got some nice primes. When the break came back, attacks kept going and we covered everything very well. We felt in control UNTIL Thurlow Rogers, who'd pretty much sat in until this point, attacked mightily with about 1/4 of the race left. I wasn't at the front so I don't know how he did or was allowed to get away but he did. Then, with about 5 laps to go, 2 more riders were up the road. Our team semi-organized near the front and pushed the pace to try and bring back at least the 2 riders. Thurlow was already gone well ahead for the win. We caught the two riders heading to the line but our own leadout train fell apart. After the Costa Mesa race, we were all pretty disappointed with how this race turned out for us. We were riding fine until the Thurlow attack and then it all seemed to come apart. We've realized we need to improve how we race the last 10 minutes of a race when it's going to be a pack sprint. We need to work on our organization and leadout responsibilities. It will come.

-adm
Rest. Relax, Renew.

CBR Costa Mesa Crit Recap
THU, 08 JUN 2006

Last Sunday was the CBR Costa Mesa Crit, a flat, four-corner, 0.9 mile course in a typical business park that hasn't been used in several years. I'd never done it before, but crits are crits, so I wasn't concerned. It was a nice surprise to show up and feel how relatively cool it was in Costa Mesa. SoCal had been going through quite a Spring heat wave so it was a relief to be rewarded by Costa Mesa's coolness because of its proximity to coastal breezes. I felt sorry for whoever chose to race in Ontario, instead, because it must have been 20 degrees hotter there, putting them in the mid-90s.

As has become a staple of CBR Pro/1/2 racing, the race was 100 kilometers (about 62 miles). I'd learned from a previous attempt that doing any more than this one race in a day is very hard and makes it very, very unlikely to do well. I decided to skip the earlier 30+ race and put all my efforts into the Pro/1/2 race.

Our team was 7 strong: Chris, Gil, Steve, Lance, Nate, Frank, and me. Nate wasn't feeling so hot because he'd just ran the San Diego marathon that morning (in something like 3 hr. 15 min.). The last time Nate ran a marathon before racing, he finished in the top five. Chris was still sore from his spill last week at the Barry Wolfe Grand Prix. For everyone, it was the first and only race of the day and we expected to do well.

With almost 70 laps ahead of us, we set out to racing. The course was great except for the gigantic traffic dots and reflectors all around and the headwind after turn 3 and 4. I told Brad (Velocity) before the race that I didn't think a break would get away early. I was nearly proven wrong as attacks started immediately. Groups of 4-6 would get off the front but would get reeled in within a lap or two. Gil and the rest of the team was very active at the front. We were in or quickly covered every break or gap. I was active at the front, too. I was feeling pretty good, a contrast to how I'd felt all week before. A good night's rest and heavy meal of barbecued meats must have done the trick.

Successful Living was the most aggressive team, launching attacks over and over again. It was probably mid-way through the race that their newest team member, Gordon McCauley, took off on a solo flyer for several laps. Staying away in the wind from a fast and hungry pack would be a big challenge for any rider, but Gordon was a threat up the road because he's the former New Zealand road and time trial champion and his team was happy to sit up and watch him do his thing. Alas, Gordon slowed and the pack kept up the hunt and he was caught. Later, the only break of the day without my team in it got up the road. We quickly realized the threat and chased. Chris came through with three other teammates, set a blistering pace, and the team soon shut down that break while also fracturing the field, dropping 20 or so riders.

Towards the end of the race guys were tired all over and many were just hanging on. Mental mistakes from fatigue were likely the cause of about 3 crashes during the day (one of which I got tangled up in but didn't cause me to smack pavement. I did have to take a free lap). At 10 laps to go I was sure it was going to come down to a field sprint, but a lap later, an attack put a group of four up the road, including McCauley and his teammate Daniel Ramsey, Brandon Gritters (Hi-Tech Bikes), and Rudy Napolitano (Helen's). Realizing the promise of the group, I jumped to get into the break and it was off. A lap later, we were joined by Gil and another rider. I was relieved to have Gil in the break so we could team up against the two Successful Living riders who were sure to play hard.

The break had good momentum and we all worked evenly to get it going. Back in the pack, our teammates were throwing up a great block to ensure the break would stick. At about 4 laps to go, with a solid lead formed, Gil and I noticed McCauley sitting in about 5 meters off the back and not pulling through. Gil suggested he'd continue to work through the rotation and I would go sit in behind McCauley. I rolled back behind McCauley and waited.

At one lap to go, McCauley attacked into turn 1. I paused to see how the rest would react, and when there was no reaction, I jumped on the inside and bridged onto McCauley's wheel before turn 2. McCauley kept rolling until about two-thirds of the way to turn 3, then pulled off, leaving me to decide to sit up and risk our capture or pull through. I got the feeling he was happy to have us caught by our break-mates, so I pulled through. I jumped on the stretch before turn 3 and 4. I couldn't shake him. I led us through turn 4 and then popped up to sprint, hugging the right side to the finish line. McCauley was forced to come out to my left, into the wind, but it didn't slow him as much as I'd hoped, and he beat me to the line by a bike and a half.

I settled for 2nd place and Gil earned 5th. It was a great day of racing for the team. I'm glad to have finally hit the podium this year but hate being first loser. It would have been extra satisfying to deliver a win for the team after how hard everyone worked. If I could do it again, I would have attacked hard immediately after McCauley pulled off before turn 3. I was tired but I think I might have had a chance to get by him and stay away. We'll never know...

-adm
Bad News: Lost to Gordon McCauley. Good News: Beat Mr. Portly Fife!

P.S. April blog entries are now archived.

Security Guard Slalom
WED, 07 JUN 2006

Late this afternoon/early evening, I went on a climbing ride with Mike Buechler (Team Velocity). We did Wednesday climbing rides 4-6 times last year and they were great for me, so I'm glad we could get them going again. I need the time and miles - it's usually 3-4 hours, 60 miles for me. The long summer days with sunlight until 8PM helps to make it happen.

Mike lives in Brea, near the "Brea Downtown" shopping district. I rode out to his house, and then we were off to hit the hills of Yorba Linda around 5:40 PM. Because we're heading out smack in the middle of rush hour, just as we did last year, Mike took us on a detour to avoid the very busy, congested, and risky lanes of Imperial Highway.

The detour involves heading east on Birch St. The quirk about getting to Birch from Mike's house is that we have to go up a "Brea Downtown" parking garage to get there. It sounds odd because it is. The first time we did it I thought Mike was crazy for leading me through a parking garage. But sure enough, the road we turn on leads into the garage, we go up counter-clockwise about three levels, and emerge onto Birch! How he figured this out, I don't know, but its effective and saves us from having to battle tired, angry commuters on Imperial.

We've never had a problem going through the parking garage before. It's just like riding through any parking lot. We take a moderate pace and keep and eye out for cars, especially ones backing up that might not see us. But today, we caught the ire of a portly male security guard, hereafter referred to as Mr. Portly Fife.

As we were half-way up the first level, off to the corner were two security guards talking next to a security guard vehicle. They would have gone completely unnoticed to me except for the fact that one of them shouted out to us, "Hey, no bicycles in here! Get off!" I couldn't understand why he would say that, but I quickly figured a possibility was he thought we were somehow screwing around in the parking garage and didn't want us causing trouble. That's understandable, so as we continued to roll, I yelled back, "Hey, we're just like cars passing through."

Apparently I made Mr. Portly Fife mad, because as we rolled up on the same location of the garage, except a level up, Mr. Portly Fife emerged from the adjacent stairwell in full snorting and frothing anger, charging at us and screaming, "Stop your bikes! Get off!"

At one point it appeared Mr. Portly Fife might try to tackle Mike as he and I rolled along at about 15 miles per hour. However, while he came close, Mr. Portly Fife either maxed out his aerobic ability or he came to his senses and chose not to apply the William "The Refrigerator" Perry tackle. In either case, Mike and I rolled by unscathed but irritated. Mike took the high rode and said nothing, while I more than made-up for his restraint by unleashing a tirade of obscenities, cruel security guard jokes, and taunts about how Mr. Portly Fife couldn't catch me even if he was in his vehicle.

Frustrated from our defiance, or satisfied that he achieved his exercise quota for the day, we did not see Mr. Portly Fife as we went through the last level of the garage and emerged onto the street. I was somewhat disappointed because I was looking forward to testing my parking garage sprint prowess, and because I also had a few jokes left in my arsenal.

Rolling along, Mike and I discussed what happened. I couldn't believe Mr. Portly Fife's actions, especially the tackle he was considering. After all, we were simply riding through just as any motorist might pass through to go shopping. But, in further talking, Mike said he'd been yelled at before from the security guards there. And though I've never seen it, Mike says there's a sign that says something to the effect of, "NO BICYCLES ALLOWED." Certainly, this changes my perspective of the situation. Now, I can understand why we might not be welcome, but what it doesn't do is make any common sense. Mike suggested the "NO BICYCLES" restriction might be in place to keep kids out, kind of like "NO SKATEBOARDS" and "NO SKATES" restrictions. I agreed with Mike, but countered that anyone with common sense would see that in this case we were clearly vehicles of the road and should be treated on par with automobiles and therefore allowed the same right to pass.

-adm
Bad News: Lost to Gordon McCauley. Good News: Beat Mr. Portly Fife!

I Voted For The Spawns of Satan
TUE, 06 JUN 2006

Is it any coincidence that today is election day and the "Day of the Devil" (6 June 2006, a.k.a. 06/06/06, a.k.a. 666, the mark of the Antichrist)?

I'm not saying all politicians are evil, but certainly the irony is here.

Anyhow, like 'em or not, voting is a great American right. It's one I cherish and with today's vote I'm glad to say my perfect voting record is intact.

-adm
I Voted. Have You?