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Rapha Roller Race

So, things were looking up after the Urban Assault. Sure, it wasn't a true test of athletic prowess, but it did take a good deal of effort and skill. One of my top 5 career victories came about a month later at the Austin Rapha Roller races held at Mellow Johnny's on July 12th...
Originally posted 07/13/08

(In movie guy voice)
"In a town built by roadies...

In the house a roadie built...

Four young outsiders, decide to take the challenge of a lifetime. A challenge...that will define them for eternity. A challenge that will never be forgotten...

This is their story, a story of grit, determination, chain, gears, and tires...a story to change it all"
(Quoted from Teammate Jason Beer, from our team forum)

Caveman is B-A-C-K. Thanks for everyone's support last night. My name might have been on the final line, but it was a team win. Thommy and Colleen kept my legs fresh between matches, kept me hydrated. Rico was Rico. Ian called it early in the race that I was going home with a new track frame, and so he was great inspiration. Other various teammates kept tabs on my position and kept me pumped up. Even people who weren't teammates but were fellow mountain bikes were cheering me on, and that made the victory that much better for all the fat tire lovers out there. I would like to also mention that we had three mashers make it to the quarter finals, more than any other team, and it would've been all 4 had Ian's foot not come unclipped on his first round. Interestingly enough, the 4th and 5th rounds were the hardest. I left absolutely everything out there on those two rounds The final round was tough, but I was more prepared than my worthy opponent. With our practice Thursday night, we practiced 20, 30, and 40 second runs. I discovered that If i paced myself early on, i could finish super strong and not fade. So I planned to start easy, let him get the lead, let him get excited about the lead, and then let him blow up and then blow him out of the water, and if you were there, you that's exactly how it went down. Shame on that announcer for betting against me. On a positive note, several people bet for me and went home a little richer. If you were one of them, you owe me a beer. I am super tired after successfully completing my first triathlon this morning and will be taking it easy for a few days. I'll try to get the IRO track frame built up and let the mashers ride it on the next pub crawl.

Here is the recap from the Rapha site:
http://www.rapha.cc/index.php?page=512

Back up the ladder-Urban assault

So, my journey back to the top officially started at the final TMBRA spring race held at X-bar back on May 18. I knew I couldn't start back at the Pro/Semi-Pro/Elite level so i raced expert in my age group. I didn't know what to expect having taken so much time off and still overcoming injury. I struggled for most of the race and finished a dismal 6th place. It's hard having a result like that after dominating that class for so long, and feeling pretty beat up from a tough course, but you have to start somewhere. Following that race I eased back into training and prepared for the upcoming urban assault with lovely g/f Colleen. We were determined to lay the hurt down and get a podium finish, but at the same time have a lot of fun doing it.

Here is a short recap of our success:
Originally posted 06/23/08, 09:16 AM »

That was the absolute funnest race I have ever done. Team Apocalyptic Aardvarks talked the talk all week, and then we went out and WALKED THE WALK. We did not bring home the desired gold, but SILVER ain't all that bad either

Checkpoint strategy was the key to a podium finish. Second to that was route planning and improvisation skills. We did not run a single red light, because we avoided them in the first place. In places where we absolutely had to cross a light, we would either get lucky and get a green or employ other legal ways of crossing. Living around campus and downtown for the past 8 years and commuting almost daily definitely paid off yesterday.
Thirdly was our execution of checkpoints. We did not flounder one single challenge. I can't wait to see what the winning Co-ed time was and come up with an even better plan for next year. If you have never done this race, the $60 entry fee is well worth it. Get out there and try it!

I'd like to thank my lovely girlfriend Colleen for suffering like a dog trying to stick on my wheel, executing near flawlessly on the challenges, and getting our team jerseys made up. Rumor has it she might be joining the team soon for some more masher triathlete representation.

Thanks also to Dustin and all the other volunteers who made this race happen.

Back in the saddle

Originally posted Friday, May 02, 2008

It is with great joy that I return to cycling. After what has felt like a couple of years off the bike (more like 3 months), therapy and the body's own healing mechanisms have progressed far enough for me to start training again. What better time than with the arrival of 3 new mountain bikes! Out with the old, in with the new. My quest for the next 24 hour finish starts now. It will be a long time before I get my 24 hour physique back, and will likely be Single Speeding some Texas races, and maybe even hopping into some expert races, but for the moment, I'm just happy to be back in the saddle.

In search of Vindication

Originally posted Friday, February 22, 2008

Hope dangles on a string
Like slow spinning redemption
Winding in and winding out
The shine of it has caught my eye

And roped me in
So mesmerizing, so hypnotizing
I am captivated

-Dashboard Confessional

The body is a resilient thing. I found this out first hand back in October 2007 after winning the 24 hours of Rocky Hill. It is, however, with limits, as I painfully found out at the 24 hours in the Old Pueblo (Tucson, AZ) the second weekend of February 2008. I had some bike fit issues and was just a bit under-trained (more accurately I was mis-trained, more for XC racing) for that first 24 hour race in Smithville. I think this led to a nagging knee pain that lasted right up until the week before Tucson. A few months of research and physical therapy had finally relieved me of the pain I'd been dealing with all winter, through a few cyclo-cross races and the 2 opening races of the Texas Marathon series. Although the discomfort was gone, I was doubtful I'd be physically ready for the race since the injury had limited my training. 24 hour races are the last place to harbor doubt, but I had already paid the $135 entry fee and agreed to carpool with teammates that would be competing on a 4 man team, so I wasn't going to turn back. Mentally, I was more prepared for this race than any other race I'd entered. I had packed my bags early, making sure every piece of equipment I might need was in its place. Nutrition was well planned out and much better than the last race. More carbs, more fat, more options to choose from, more ways to get it down. My game plan was set. Ride smooth, ride consistent, take minimal breaks, just keep pedaling. I learned a great bit from the last race, but this one was a national race with national talent. It wasn't going to be a walk in the park, even if everything went as planned. I was still hopeful of a top 5 finish, among 90-100 entrants, the largest MTB field I've ever raced against. This course was much different than the Rocky Hill course. 17 mile laps compared to 10. 1200 ft elevation gain compared to about 900. 30 degree overnight lows compared to 58. Cactus instead of pine trees. Wide open jeep roads and desert singletrack-overall less twisty. In a way it played to my strengths and my bike's strength, but that wouldn't matter. I was about ¾ through lap 7, about mile 110 or so, and I started to feel a sharp pain right below the left patella. I knew it was only going to get worse and if I kept pushing on, it would do some pretty bad damage. So right then and there, I was faced with a pretty tough decision. I was a little over halfway though the 24 hour clock. I was moving up the ranks to where I wanted to be before really laying down the hurt in the late night hours when most people start to cave in. That's when the race is really won. I had the energy to keep going. I definitely had the desire. Too bad I didn't have the knees. I rolled back into camp and called the race. I'm not a quitter, and in fact, this was the first mountain bike race that I've ever thrown in the towel on. I don't know that I've ever been so heartbroken over a decision like that. I knew it was the right one though, and I knew I had still put in a pretty good fight. I did not hold regret, only frustration that my body gave out before my mind. I drank a little liquor with a friend of a friend out there to cheer us on and have some fun, and passed out in my tent til sunrise. Woke, got some warm clothes on, ate some food, and pretty much fiddled around camp and the expo area all morning. I got to thinking that maybe the rest I had overnight would let me do another lap. Once the thought was in my head, I just couldn't get it out, so I suited back up, and at 11am, 1 hour before closing time, I set out for my 8^th and final lap. If I was going to get 1 last lap in, I was gonna do it in style. Not only did I don my Texas State Marathon champion jersey that I had earned last year, I blazed that trail in 1:11, a faster time than several of the 4 man team riders were putting up. My last lap superhero effort was enough bump me back up to 29^th of 92. Not the top 5 I was looking for, but a morale victory and a bit of redemption nonetheless. That brings me to now. The internal injuries I have sustained from this race are a bit more serious than the last 24 hour race. They are not surgery kind of serious, but after careful listening to trusted people with experience in this area, I have decided they are season-ending serious. So not only did I have to quit the biggest race I've ever wanted to complete, I'm ditching the spring TMBRA season. That was an even tougher decision to make, but one I felt absolutely necessary. Sometimes you have to take a step back to take 2 steps forward. Racing on injuries only makes you slower. So, I've got my sights set on the next big race, 24 hours of Moab on Oct. 11th-the single largest 24 hour race on the globe. Our team was planning a trip out there as sort of vacation, but also to do some more national events. I'm undecided whether I'll attempt solo again, or try the 4 man thing, but either way, my game plan remains the same. Take as much time off as needed to get healed. Jump into very light base training. Step it up a notch for a month or two. Then step it up a couple of more notches for a month. By now it'll be mid summer, so perhaps I can do some local rides or races. I'll have one last month of very intense training, 2 weeks of taper, and then race time. If I train properly and stay disciplined, I will avoid injury, kick some serious tail at Moab, and hopefully be able to finish out the fall TMBRA season in style. I'm out for vindication. Moab is where I'm going to get it.

-Greg

The Biggest Race

Originally posted February 12, 2008

The race with Lance was just child's play. This week I, prepare diligently for the toughest race I have ever signed up for, 24 hours in the Old Pueblo, Tucson, AZ. The last 24 hour race I did back on Oct 20 was tough, don't get me wrong. But it was a learning experience. I was figuring out what 24 hour racing was all about. I felt the pain, and then I dealt it. The human body is such a resilient thing, usually more resilient than the mind. These races are about mental toughness, preparedness, and heart. This go round, I'm up against world class athletes, most notably Tinker Juarez .He is arguably as famous to mountain biking as Lance is to road biking. He won't be the only one pushing me to the absolute limit. There are 135 people in my category total. I didn't get to train as hard over the winter as I wanted to due to a nagging knee injury, but despite my fitness doubts I remain optimistic and feel healthy. You better believe I've got the Eye of the Tiger with me, and you better believe I'm shooting for a podium finish. I will be traveling with teammates Jay and Nick, who are signed up with two other teammates out west for a pretty bad ass 4 man team. They're gunnin for a top ten. Keep us in your thoughts as we depart TX Thursday evening and return Monday afternoon.
Long Live Long Rides

Comfort Race Report- Lance is human after all...

Originally posted Monday, January 28, 2008 at 10:33am

So, I’m sure everyone is just dying for a recap of my race against the champ this past weekend. Not much exciting to report, but here it is.

My teammate Fred and I roll up to Flat Rock ranch around 9 Friday night. The lady that runs the place ask what we’re going to do, we tell her camp out, she says “great, pull around to the side and sign the waiver. We’ve got a real treat tonight, Lance is here and he’s hanging out with us.” So we get out and sure enough, there was Lance amid 20 or so folks. The keg of Shiner black was tapped and most everybody, including Lance, was partaking. Fred and I grab a cup and catch about 3 minutes of the conversation before Lance heads in for the night. They had some wicked homemade lasagna and garlic bread that Fred and I also got a fair amount of since we hadn’t ate yet. We got registered, hung out by the fire, drank some more beer, made camp, and hit the hay. The skies actually cleared a bit, providing very comfortable crisp temps in the mid thirties that night.

Morning comes and I do all my usual pre race prep. They send everyone over to staging come 8:45am. They start calling the open category men up to the line. To not make a scene out of the whole thing, they didn’t call Lance, but he was already on the line. I didn’t even know I had lined up behind him until 20 or so seconds passed, but there he was, the 7 time Tour de France champ on the line. We chatted a bit about bikes before the gun went off. I fully expected him to sprint away, but he was either holding back or I had a bit more sprinting power than he did, at least on a MTB, because not only did he almost take me out from getting in the way and slowing up, but I zoomed right by him after that. Everything is going smooth working my way to the front and then bam. My rear wheel comes out. The skewer broke. After looking around a while for the nut that came off, I decide it’s a lost cause. I shoulder the bike and starting running back towards the pit area at the start. I grab a spare one, put it on, and begin the long arduous task of trying to catch back up. In truth though, my race was over at that point. The entire field of riders had passed me. I would spend the majority of the race playing catch-up and passing slower riders. Heading out onto lap 2 of 4 I noticed my left pedal had excessive play. The cleat in my shoe had come loose, so I stopped to fix it. Get pedalin and noticed the cleat wasn’t tightened where it was supposed to. It was causing some knee discomfort, so I stop again to adjust it. Mechanical #3. About halfway through lap 3, get a flat in my rear tubeless tire. Shouldn’t have happened in the first place, but it did. Tried to air it up and get the sealant to fill the hole, but no luck. Threw in a tube and got going. I was fairly exhausted and demoralized by this point. I didn’t have anything to gain by doing that last lap. When I came through the feed I was ready to suffer my first DNF in a mountain bike race ever. I was that close to throwin in the towel, even started drinking a beer. A teammate came over and gave me all the motivation I needed to get out there and endure that last 14 miles in just four words: Lance DNF’d (did not finish for you non-race folks). Apparently shortly after starting his last lap he came walking back claiming he had a mechanical. When asked what was wrong, he said “my legs quit working” He was cramping bad and just didn’t have it that day to finish the race. I grabbed my un-trusty steed and headed back out for 1 more lap. It had really heated up by this point, the course was really exposed, and I was already in a lot of pain, but I pushed on anyways. With about 5 miles left, I flat again. Fifth mechanical of the day. This course and my bike really don’t get a long. Neither do my joints or rear end. Threw in my last tube and hit the tail. Ended up finishing in 5:46, about 1:10 behind my target goal. It’s hard to say how things would’ve turned out had Lance finished and my bike held up, but he was sitting about 4th place before dropping out and the guy who ended up finishing 4th instead finished at about my target time, so I think stood a very good chance of coming in ahead of him. Marathon mountain biking is a totally different beast, and I think he got a pretty good taste of the difference on Saturday. That said, he’s still a world class athlete and holds my utmost respect. I hope to have the chance to race against him again in the future. Better luck to both of us next time.
Greg

I ended up 11 of 22, here are the official results


1 Nathan Winkelmann 4:6:32.00 188575 6 Woodlands Cycling Club
2 Tristan Uhl 4:9:0.00 168160 1 Hotel San Jose
3 Francisco Serrano 4:15:58.00 46 Promosports
4 Michael Bohn 4:32:18.00 212895 157 PACC
5 Eric Breckinridge 4:36:4.00 226693 5 New Revolution Cycles/PM
6 John Rigdon 4:37:15.00 166741 81 Bikesport
7 Ruben Holguin 4:55:46.00 143416 4 PBBA Cycling Team
8 David Svahn 5:11.00 200298 34 Bay Area Bicycle Shop
9 Federico Castro 5:11:22.00 225134 53 NRC/Pedalmasher
10 Bennett Brown 5:42:37.00 187726 101 Mad Duck
11 Greg Parham 5:46:26.00 211265 65 NRC/Pedalmasher
12 Cadet Bryant 5:49:20.00 207776 3
13 Ken Williford 6:3:11.00 94 RN/Camino Real
14 Kevin Dierschke 6:10:59.00 258791 63 Concho Valley Bike
15 Jeff Wilson 6:34:8.00 33
DNF Chris Michels DNF 2 Team Squash
DNF Yater Lynch DNF 62 PACC
DNF Sean Sindt DNF 235943 89 Team Sage Cycles
DNF Lance Armstrong DNF 1917 7 Mellow Johnny's
DNF Freddy Moore DNF 178627 97 NRC/Pedalmashers
DNF Brian Jones DNF 18135 50 SUN & SKI SPORTS
DNF Clayton Reamer DNF 263299 35 The Bicycle Shack