Night Race World Championship Pics

The first ever Night Race World Championship was held at an undisclosed location, organized by an undisclosed individual.

The champion - southcountyciclista, 2nd carborocket, 3rd Cori.

Awesome ride - Thanks Rick.

As you look at the pics - take a look at everyone's number plates. A simple number can tell you a lot about a person.

The champion w/ the purse - literally

Great raffle after the race.

There is a certain "glow" about people who ride a custom sabrosa bike.

Brad chasing after Brandon

Brandon aka "dark helmet" and his "schwartz"

Kris' suggestion for caption

"My Precious"

Sundance weekly race 5-26-10

Rode in the sundance weekly last night. Always fun to ride the sundance single track. 2.5 laps for the expert B (a category I probably shouldn't have been in).

The good:

First weekly race for me. Reasonable price.

Fun course to ride the SS

Not as much climbing as the ICUP course

Won some gloves in the raffle

Beautiful singletrack

The not so good:

I was so wasted on the last lap, I got sloppy on the downhill - went over the bars... AGAIN

Bent my front wheel - costly mistake

Landis

He's a nut case, but his info on how to beat the biological passport is amazing.

Here is the article/interview

Did I get it right?

Family and church obligations took me out of the soldier hollow icup race. My wife can attest that I was extremely grumpy on Saturday since I missed the race.

However I did get out and pre-ride the draper icup on Friday. I ran into Carl and he had just done the course and expressed the same confusion many others had mentioned. Check out his blog for some pics.

I rode the course aprrox 7.28 miles. I'm still wondering, Did I ride the whole course? Did I get it right?

Here is a link to the google earth file if you want a closer look.

Sundance ICUP Report, Photos, Video

ICUP Sundance Spin 2010 from atomicmiles on Vimeo.

In classic Utah County fashion, the start of the Sundance ICUP is up a significant climb. It is an all out redline effort to get to the top of the climb where the single track begins. Places to pass are limited so I wanted to get to the single track before the pack.

In the sport 35-39, Mark M. from UMB has been dominating the races. In the video you can see that I tried to keep his wheel, but he pulled away on the initial climb and was never seen until the finish line. He is consistently putting a 3-4 minute gap on the second place finisher.

I was second to the singletrack and Brannen (part of the lunch ride group - Go check out his blog as he has some good pics) came in right behind me. Most of the slower bikers from other categories were kind enough to let us pass. Sweet singletrack with some exposure.

At the flathead ski lift base, the double track climbing up towards arrowhead (we didn't go all the way to arrowhead) doesn't look steep, but it was painful--especially on the second lap. Brannen passed on the uphill here and then I would catch him on the downhill-- a pattern that would be repeated a few times on the race.

The final descent on the lap came down front mountain right under Rays lift and onto the road right by the yurts. Then, another painful climb up the pave road back to the start line.

On the second and final lap, Brannen passed me on the climb. I kept him within my sights and hoped to pass him on the downhill. I would then have to gut out the final climb to the finish line. However, as I was chasing on the downhill, I hit a soft shoulder and my wheel washed out. I flipped right over the handlebars going right between two pine trees. Luckily, the ground was soft and spongy with years of piled up pine needles. A quick inventory that I was still in one piece and the bike was fine, I jumped back on the trail to finish the race. Any chance of catching Brannen was gone. Unfortunately the wreck slammed my camera hard enough that it didn't record the wreck.

The Sundance single track is awesome. A very fun course. Congrats to Brannen on 2nd--he's strong on the climbs.

The Mad Dog kits came in and I was impressed. I've bagged on blackbottom jerseys in the past, but I got to say, they've made some improvements. They have a better zipper now, and the bib shorts were super comfortable out of the package. A big "thank you" to Keith P. for managing the Mad Dog Team--it's practically a full time job for him.

Mormon Missionaries

The ICUP report is coming w/ the video later today.

In the meantime, check out these guys.

Race Day

Race day. There is nothing like it. The nerves are on alert. The stomach is uneasy--I don't feel like eating much. I continue riding the course in my mind planning areas to pass, curves where I can maintain speed, and optimal lines through obstacles. An hour or more of pain and suffering bliss is coming.

Lunch Ride Video

Spring Lunch Rides from atomicmiles on Vimeo.

Fatty Monday

If you come on a lunch ride down in the UC, let me translate a statement you might hear.

"I don't care what we ride as long as I can take it easy today"

Translation...

"Whatever we ride, I going to hammer it and inflict some pain on everyone else"

4 riders for the lunch ride... All show up in fat cyclist jerseys... Not planned. Ireland was in the best condition I've ever seen. Beautiful day.

ICUP Five Mile Pass

Some Pics - Report to come.

This is what Cedar Fort looked like on the way out. However, great weather out at 5 mile.