Tour of the Catskills - Forum Archive

Aug 03, 2013 at 03:45 AM

Ryan J said:

yes thus far there is not much good to report

will try to do better tomorrow

cryptic...useful to read reports even if they don't end with "and it was epic, and I was on the podium, and a supermodel asked me out on a date."

Strong guys, don't lose your heads. Race like you are down on fitness, not like you just set all time Strava records.

Jules

Aug 03, 2013 at 10:41 AM

I just saw a spider the size of a coffee mug.

Ryan J

Aug 03, 2013 at 12:18 PM

Marc Bertucco said:

Ryan J said:

yes thus far there is not much good to report

will try to do better tomorrow

cryptic...useful to read reports even if they don't end with "and it was epic, and I was on the podium, and a supermodel asked me out on a date."

Strong guys, don't lose your heads. Race like you are down on fitness, not like you just set all time Strava records.

I got 51st in the TT over 3 min back. Got beat even by some of the skinny climbers who I usually beat in TTs. Windy out and back. Mostly flat. Power wasn't too bad, for being on aerobars. But I was slow as molasses, apparently.

Today is airport road. Last time I did airport road was a great day for me, so we'll see. Hope to do better today.

harry bolick

Aug 03, 2013 at 02:50 PM

GoodLuck Kissena Crew!
its a tough stage race...hang-in fight hard&out last field over (3)days.
-h;-)

Jules

Aug 03, 2013 at 04:49 PM

Second from a two man break. Couldn't come around him in the sprint.

Jeff Condon

Aug 03, 2013 at 04:50 PM

Awesome, Jules!

Marc Bertucco

Aug 03, 2013 at 04:58 PM

Jules said:

Second from a two man break. Couldn't come around him in the sprint.

Sheeeeeeeet....dude is coming into some form. Cat 4 crossers better look out!

Marc Bertucco

Aug 03, 2013 at 05:01 PM

Ryan, hang tough. As long as you weren't 3 minutes back from any GC dudes. I wonder, now that you mentioned power was okay for aero-bars, if you would have been better off Eddy M. style?

Ryan J

Aug 03, 2013 at 05:16 PM

Well, it only got worse.

I couldn't stay in the top 30 on the intermediate climb. Ended up in a decent sized chase group. Marshal turned us the wrong way onto the pro/1/2 course. We rode 2 miles in the wrong direction.

We were right by the turnoff to our house, so, seeing no reason to suffer 20 miles including airport road since I'm total shit this weekend anyway, I said "screw this" and dropped out. Rode home.

Coming home with Jules tonight.

harry bolick

Aug 03, 2013 at 05:29 PM

Bravo! Jules...this is your thing, long hard races, enJOY the accomplishment.
-h:-)

@ryan, will fight another day!

Ryan J

Aug 03, 2013 at 05:32 PM

Marc Bertucco said:

Ryan, hang tough. As long as you weren't 3 minutes back from any GC dudes. I wonder, now that you mentioned power was okay for aero-bars, if you would have been better off Eddy M. style?

I was behind every GC dude, including those I normally beat in flat TTs. I was behind everyone.

The way I climbed today, I don't think cannibal style would've made a difference.

mperlberg

Aug 03, 2013 at 05:54 PM

Ryan - sucks to hear that, but it's hard to argue with the MVP caliber season you've had.... getting results since March and all.

Adam

Aug 03, 2013 at 06:25 PM

Ryan is mis-selling this.

After the first (hardest and longest) climb of the day, there was a lead group of about 15 that crested the summit. Ryan and I were in a group of 12 that crested 30s back. We had a 15 mile descent/flat part of the course next. Would easily have chased back on and then been able to compete in the finale.

Somehow, a marshall (or lack of one, can't remember) meant that we ended up going the wrong way, but the lead group 30s ahead didn't?? This afflicted other fields too, not just ours.

Apparently, today is FUBAR but at least they'll let us start tomorrow.

eragot

Aug 03, 2013 at 07:20 PM

Ryan. You've ridden boss all season. Getting sent off course is awful.

Ryan J

Aug 03, 2013 at 07:52 PM

Apparently, Adam sees it differently. Anyway, I was 25 watts off my best 15-20. My schedule leading up to this race the last two weeks was absurd. Little riding and little rest.

eragot

Aug 03, 2013 at 08:55 PM

Sometimes stress gets in the way of racing.

konrad

Aug 03, 2013 at 09:13 PM

Not hot for me in the 4s either. I was in the lead group going up the first big climb, two or three wheels back from Aly (who got 11th on the day). Goon in front of me rides straight into the wheel in front of him and topples over. I hit the deck, hop up, straighten out my shifter, and start chasing. Get 3k from the summit and I've got an undeniable front flat. Pull over and I've got to wait for nearly every rider to pass me so the wheel truck can come.

Spent two hours chasing, roll in at 48th. Meh.

Let's see how tomorrow goes.

Marc Bertucco

Aug 03, 2013 at 09:58 PM

Me confusee, Jules is not racing tomorrow?

Jules

Aug 03, 2013 at 10:23 PM

Me confusee, Jules is not racing tomorrow?

Family man special. One day only.

Jules

Aug 03, 2013 at 10:58 PM

It looks close but it wasn't. I was closing on him but needed 100 more meters to seal the deal... it must be painful to watch two climbers sprint. I did see almost 190 HR for it though

Phil Maronilla

Aug 04, 2013 at 01:31 AM

^ are those BMX bikes??

Congrats Jules!

Jules

Aug 04, 2013 at 01:33 AM

Podium Duck meets Airport Road Part I

Over the years, the Tour of the Catskills has been an up and down race for me.

In 2010, I went up with the family and rocked my way to 4th on GC as an unattached Cat 5.

In 2011, I went up with the family AND my new Kissena family aka "the wrecking crew" as one of the protected riders - incredibly after being on the team for all of a week or two there were half a dozen guys ready to lay it down for myself, Norm and Ryan. I was 14th on GC and we won the team competition.

In 2012, I went up with the family and it was 100+ degrees the first two days. I called it quits after the second day and went home with my tail between my legs.

This year my ambitions were much milder; I've sold my TT bike and didn't feel like I had the fitness to contest a three day stage race - so I planned to do just two days and skip the Time Trial in the hopes that I'd be a little bit fresher and be able to contest for points which I need to upgrade.

Saturday's race was the "Airport Road" stage where I'd come unglued badly in 2011 in the heat - and I knew if it wasn't too hot I'd probably be able to do well. It's a rolling course with almost five thousand feet of climbing in only fifty five miles. Two big climbs dominate the course; the first is four and a half miles at almost 2200 feet of elevation and the second is 2100 feet of climbing in under two miles - it's name is "Airport Road."

Coming off a tough 2 weeks of work/travel/not enough sleep I scrambled on Friday afternoon to pack all the various pieces and get myself onto the highway headed north. On the way I realized sheepishly that I really didn't want to spend the entire weekend away from the kids. After a quick sanity check call to Lisa I decided to race Saturday and then return home, forfeiting my entry fee for Sunday.

I arrived at the rental house in time for a pasta & chicken dinner with Ryan, Adam and Konrad. Ryan and Adam regaled me with stories about how they'd been "clubbed like baby seals" and "beaten soundly" and "trounced" and "stomped on" in the time trial earlier that day. As Ryan summarized it, "Pretty much everyone beat us. Even some of the women's field."

Stages races are no place for consolation beer, so we spent the rest of the evening arguing about the best movies of all time - Adam insisted on a combined list but I held out for categories: Drama, Science Fiction, Comedy, etc. In the end, under extreme duress, I settled on

Empire Strikes Back

Big Trouble in Little China

Army of Darkness

Although I submitted my protest to groans of complaint to Adam, both Ryan and Konrad were asleep and unable to contribute to the appeals process.

In the morning we all woke, checked our various bits & pieces of bike and before long I was (somehow?) running late for the start. I pinned my numbers, stuffed my cellphone into a latex glove for sweat-proofing and dashed around for all of fifteen minutes trying to warm up and figure out where on the finishing stretch the sprint should start, should it come to that.

Jules

Aug 04, 2013 at 01:34 AM

Podum Duck meets Airport Road Part II

Fast forward to the start: me and thirty five of my closest enemies (the 4/5 field is the only way to race a one-day race) rolled out along a familiar road towards the highway descent.

In 2010 I couldn't sleep the night before this five mile downhill; I almost didn't race it out of sheer terror. This year I had no trouble at all with it and before long we were all rolling along the valley floor to the bottom of the first big hill.

From here on out there are really only four protagonists:

Me

The Hairy Legged Kelly Benefit guy

The Orange Overstock guy

The White Kit Minuteman rider

When we arrived at the foot of the first big hill the wind was coming down the hill straight into our faces. Kelly went straight to the front with Orange Overstock on his wheel; I slotted in behind them. They proceeded to take pulls going uphill and I was happy to sit behind the two of them holding on for what seemed like dear life.

The climb took about twenty five minutes and it seemed to get hotter and hotter. The forecast had been for mid 70's but my Garmin read high 80's. Weathermen are all damned liars.

When we got to the top I breathed a sigh of relief and looked back. We were less than ten riders. The rest of the field was completely gone.

We quickly organized and set up a nice paceline where we pushed our lead and rolled across the top of the ridge and back down to the valley floor where we began our second ascent: the dreaded "Airport Road."

This climb was significantly steeper, and when we got to the bottom, White Minuteman shot out ahead of us - as a slender guy he was out of the saddle putting as much time into us as he'd be able on the steepest pitches.

Racing for points means racing to stay in the top ten so I sat cautiously on the wheels of Kelly and Orange Overstock concentrating on distracting myself from the pain on the steepest sections. I was (surprisingly) first amongst the group on the toughest pitches.

Soon enough we crested the summit and once again I looked back to find fewer faces. This time it was just me, Orange Overstock and Kelly.

I was quite frankly tired and cramping by then (the cramps had started alarmingly at the top of the first climb) so I sat on their wheels as they slowly, oh so slowly reeled in White Minuteman. He's a great climber and probably put close to a minute into us on the steepest climb, but he couldn't hold his advantage on the flatter parts of the course.

We caught him with about five miles to go and he clung to the back of our little quartet looking beaten.

Jules

Aug 04, 2013 at 01:35 AM

Podum Duck meets Airport Road Part III

Racing for points meant that I really just had to roll in with these three guys and my odds were pretty good for a podium. Orange Overstock and Kelly were still so strong I figured they'd be the ones to worry about for the sprint and frankly I didn't have any idea what I could do to beat them. I did consider cutting a deal but I just couldn't bring myself to do it.

When we saw the "2 km to go" sign Orange Overstock jumped and I was on his wheel in a flash with Kelly on mine. I looked back and we had a sizable gap On White Minuteman so I figured I'd just sit on and see what he had... two km is a long way when you're that tired.

I think Overstock overestimated his engine though and when we saw the "1 km to go" sign Kelly jumped hard, and I leapt after him with my legs screaming in pain. I hadn't hurt this bad all race but the cramps and the fatigue were brutal. I really credit the Masters Park races for teaching me how to hold on at times like that - I didn't lose his wheel and by the "500 m to go" sign he'd slowed again and it was just the two of us.

I had nothing in terms of a plan other than to try and pedal harder - but he opened it up at the bottom of the final climb; I followed as hard as I could and was closing so...so...so... slowly I just couldn't seal the deal before the finish line.

Second place isn't that bad.

I found the kid's favorite Duck still in my travel bag so I brought him with me for the podium photo - hence "Podium Duck" and the best part of the entire affair was the hug Isaiah gave me when I got home.

Ros Knopov

Aug 04, 2013 at 01:59 AM

Not sure what's more awesome; Jules getting 2nd or the suspense novel like way he writes his race reports. So good. Congrats dude!!!

Marc Bertucco

Aug 04, 2013 at 03:53 AM

Readers take note, although in a previous episode of the Jules Chronicles of Crushitude, our hero bemoaned the agony of having to race for points. In at least two cases, based on what I'm reading, he's done fantastically well. So if "racing for points" is what you need to call it to continue to land your self on the podium, keep on racing for those points.

mugwump

Aug 04, 2013 at 03:57 AM

Jules said:

It looks close but it wasn't. I was closing on him but needed 100 more meters to seal the deal... it must be painful to watch two climbers sprint. I did see almost 190 HR for it though

So close to victory it hurts. Sprinting on the drops would have been the winning difference.

Jules

Aug 04, 2013 at 12:37 PM

Marc Bertucco said:

Readers take note, although in a previous episode of the Jules Chronicles of Crushitude, our hero bemoaned the agony of having to race for points. In at least two cases, based on what I'm reading, he's done fantastically well. So if "racing for points" is what you need to call it to continue to land your self on the podium, keep on racing for those points.

You do seem to have a point...

Jeffrey White

Aug 04, 2013 at 02:52 PM

Jules said:

It looks close but it wasn't. I was closing on him but needed 100 more meters to seal the deal... it must be painful to watch two climbers sprint. I did see almost 190 HR for it though

So close to victory it hurts. Sprinting on the drops would have been the winning difference.

No, I think Jules screwed up his equipment selection. He should have used longer wheels.

Jules

Aug 04, 2013 at 09:12 PM

Jeffrey White said:

Jules said:

It looks close but it wasn't. I was closing on him but needed 100 more meters to seal the deal... it must be painful to watch two climbers sprint. I did see almost 190 HR for it though

So close to victory it hurts. Sprinting on the drops would have been the winning difference.
No, I think Jules screwed up his equipment selection. He should have used longer wheels.

Kelly Benefit won again today on Devil's Kitchen from another two man break. Second place didn't race yesterday. That hairy legged bastard is legit.