The race I love to hate, but I will go back every year!
Title sponsorship was not found for this year’s event so it was down to only one day. Too bad. Grandview has always welcomed us. They really get into the race and make it a great atmosphere. Hopefully, next year we will see the return to two days racing.
If it’s Sunday, it must mean the hill. Tough course. The weather was not bad, a bit breezy from the west. Warm, in the mid 80’s, but humidty went down since a front passed thru right before noon.
I really did not go in with high expectations. My goal was to ride better than last year. While I was better prepared than last year in terms of riding more, I really havent raced as much this year as I had hoped. Crits.. Hate em. But it’s part of racing, which means I gotta do ‘em. (Gotta make that weekly crit series!)
I went in feeling rested. Legs felt great during the ride up and the warmup on the coarse. The hill even felt good! As usual for Masters, a strong field of about fifty riders. (I gave thought to racing in the 3-4 race. If there had been strictly a Cat 4 race, I would have opted for that.)
To say this was an interesting race, for me, is an understatement. At the start, I fumbled around getting clipped in (one reason I have to do more mass start races). Got clipped in and settled in at the back of the back, and was with them until the first climb. On a positive, I was able to stay closer to the field in this years race.
I was involved in a Tortise and Hare race, literally. There was a guy entered who was riding a relaxed street bike, upright bars, and bar ends which he had to take off to start the race.
Before I go on I have to say something about egos. Cycling is full of them. I feel I’m not taken serious, maybe for a good reasons beyond the $1000 bike I ride. But I do think some guys can be to judgmental. Here I go back to the money issue, but people riding $2000-3000 bikes (which I consider the average cost) can look at someone like me and say “Pack Foder”. And I have to say, I was thinking the same thing when I saw Mr. Tortoise (Tortoise, if you read this. I apologize for calling you this. I only do that because I don’t know your name. And I apologize for my ego issue).
On the second lap, the race began. I was on the flat, rough section on Goodale Ave, pushing 27 to 30 MPH, when Mr. Tortoise , with his unique riding style, came flying by me as we turned onto Broadview Ave to make the climb. As he was passing, I screamed “WTF!” I showed my frustration (I apologize to you, Mr. Tortoise, who’s name I wish I really knew. I have to say, on hindsight, it more out of respect than frustration. I also apologize to any families who might have had their kids in the vicinity)
I managed to beat him up the hill, but I knew what my race was. Forget the field. I wasn’t going to get back in it, and I had my own race. As for the field, it got pretty strung out. And there were a few more guys dealing with the same person I was. And I think there frustration level was way more than mine.
This was my race for the next 16 laps. I was thinking that for the spectators they were able watch a second race, and wondering who they were supporting. I suspect it was Mr. Tortoise against the aging and slowing Mr. Hare. (Actually I think he was older than I am). I could take him up the hill. Making the turn from Broadview to First, there was a pretty stiff headwind, which slowed me down. I could get some distance on the turns and downhill on the back side. But more times than not, I would see him fly by me on the Goodale stretch. There were a few laps where it did not happen, then just when I think I established a lead…here he comes.
As we came to the line to start out last lap, I had about 10 feet on him. I kicked in the afterburners and rode as hard as I ever had. I almost lost it on the downhill and turn onto Goodale Ave. That hill really hurt on this lap. But I wasnt looking pack, I was assuming he was on my wheel.
Turns out, I had about 20 to 30 yards on him. After I crossed the line, I soft pedaled wanting to catch my ole nemesis, and my new hero, to congratulate him on his race. I have to admit, if we had come down to the finish, and we were neck and neck like we were on so many laps, I would have had to relinquish and let him cross the line ahead of me.
I was pleased with the effort. I was in better shape than last year. I rode much harder (thank you Tortise… I salute you!). And that last lap.. I rode as hard as I ever rode.
Thanks to the promoters, the officials, volunteers, and the fine citizens of the great city of Grandview (thanks for the hospitality once again!)
Can’t wait for next year!
Got up early yesterday to drive over to Versailles, OH for the Ohio State Time Trial. Thanks to Roger Bowersock and all the volunteers for a class event. And thanks to the really neat village of Versailles for having us!
I went over hoping for a better ride than I had two weeks ago at Groveport. For me, personally, it was worth the drive. I finished with in 00:53:15. This was definitely my best time trial effort in more years than I can remember. (24.9 pace)
Nope, I didn’t set the course of fire, but I came away pleased in knowing that I gave it all I had, and somewhat pleased with the final result. Though it was not even closed to placing in the Masters 50-54. There were a lot of low 40’s in that group.
I still believe ultimate TT success goes to the the motor and not the machine. And while I may sound bitter and jealous low budget racer, there is no such thing as parity when it comes to time trialing. (OK, I fess..I am jealous. Severance package coming soon..if I can find a job with money coming in…that could be fun money for me to help stimulate the economy of my LBS))
I rode my Fuji Roubaix Pro:
The only changes for me were Mavic Cosmic rims from the late 90’s (not aero), aero bars, skinsuit, and aero helmet. Guestimating I had about 1500 bucks into the total package.
Now put that against bikes that cost twice as much, weight about 3/4 of what mine weighs. Designed to slice thru the wind.Let’s be honest. While it does come down to the motor, how could I really be competitive against machine AND motors like that.
I was proud of what I personally accomplished yesterday. For me, it was a great effort , especially considering I was not a prepared for it as I should have been considering the time that has been available for training the past six weeks. I gave it all I had. That’s all I asked for.
But at the end of the day, it’s frustrating to see that lack of parity that exists. If I hadn’t been out of racing so long, I probably wouldn’t feel this way. Although its been just over a year since my non triumphant return, in a way, I still feel like Rip Van Winkle. I’m still in awe of how technology improved while I was asleep. And how training has evolved from guess work and/or heart rate monitors, to power meters and high tech gadgetry. (Which I will avoid, I dont have time to sit in from of a spreadsheet crunching numbers. I can do that when I go back to work.)
I really appreciate the non-aero division of the Groveport Time Trial. And while I was riding like crap that day, it did level the playing field. And I think it would be great for more promoters to add that category to their time trials. For all of those who are in the same boat as me, or for all of those who may want to compete, but have the attitude of “What’s the use?”
OK, I’m done with my b*tching and will jump off my soap box. Still, personally, I had a great day yesterday and had a efing blast
On to the Tour of Grandview next weekend. Then looking at the July race calendar.
Stella Artois| The Race,Do it for Papa!
The Groveport Time Trial from ohio cycling on Vimeo.
Just submitted my entry to the state road race this weekend.
I’m not as well prepared for it as I should, but what the heck. This will be my first road race in about eight years
It was a disappointing effort. My time was off one minute from last year. One difference, I did have some aero equipment last year. I’m not a high budget racer, so my aero equipment is limited to aero bars, aero helmet, and skinsuit.
This year, I raced in the non aero (stardard) division. I was really glad to see them have this division. It leveled the playing field for me, or at least it should have. Unfortunately I wasn’t as well prepared for it as I should have been.
I’m out of work and have plenty of time to ride, but I’ve been playing Mr. Fixituper and working on some home improvement projects. That changes today.
Starting week 4 tomorrow. I haven’t worked since April 30. I have to admit, I’ve kind of enjoyed not working, since I haven’t had to reach for the panic button. But it’s time to get serious. I’ve updated my resume on Monster and had some hits and calls.
Last week, it was a 300 plus mile week, and it was great. Good rides, legs held up, perfect weather. It was my fun week.
This past week, the weather was not so great, and I spent a good deal of my time remodeling the guest bathroom, which was crying for help. My first remodeling effort, and it turned out well, even if I do say so.
I do need to get back on the road this week for some serious training. Got a busy month coming up:
June 7, Grand Prix of Groveport
June 13, Ohio State Road Race Championships
Day 5- Kona
Today was a shopping day. I didn’t have high hopes for Kona, to be honest. But it ended up being a very enjoyable day.
This was our tender day. Another beautiful sunrise
Pics from the Farmers Market
Pics of the ship
More pics of Kona
All aboard was 4:30PM. Overnight sail to Kauai!
Day 6- Kauai ( Nawilliwili)
This was the island I have been waiting for.
I did get a decent picture of the full moon, something like 4AM.
We got up early and had breakfast at the Aloha. Our planned excursion was a trip to Waimea Canyon. It was a beautiful morning to have breakfast on the deck.
We disembarked, boarded the bus and we were off. We were fortunate to have the perfect tour guide, Vinny, who grew up and still lives in the area we visted.
First, there was a stop at the Spouting Horn
We then got a chance to preview the scenery that was waiting for us:
We had the perfect day to view the Canyon. Some clouds, which provided interesting shadows and contrasts of the spectacular canyon. There was also less volcanic haze on Kauai .
Some other pics from the day.
Kauai’s red dirt, which makes for some awesome t-shirts.
Got this shot of a chicken (the national bird of Kauai) as he was headed to McD’s to become the next batch of nuggets.
We got back to the ship around 2PM. I decided today would be a beach day, so we changed and we were off to enjoy the sun and the surf.
After dinner, we decided it was time to get away from the overpriced beers on the ship, and stop for six pack of Fire Rock to enjoy on the beach. It was a great evening!
Day 7- Kauai
This was kind of a sad day as there was the realization that the cruise was almost over. It was a great week. Time literally drug by. I had not picked up a newspaper all week. No Fox or CNN. It was only my Crackberry for phone and email.
All aboard was at 1:30. We were sailing at 2Pm which was going to include a sail by of the Napali coastline.
For me, it was some last minute shopping, then I came back on board to get some pictures of the ship.
I changed into my swimsuit and went top deck for the sailaway. This was our first time to cruise during the day. And it was awesome. Clear skies, cool breezes. And I got cooked!
The Napali sail by was scheduled for 5PM, so I went down and showered, anxious for this sailby. We were fortunate to have a port side balcony room as we had a perfect view and didnt have to fight for spots on the deck. This was the highlight of the trip. The ship made a turaround which made having a port balcony room even better. We were closer to the shore and slowed down in speed. Once the turnaround was done, we stayed a further distance from the shore and sped up)
So many pictures to go thru, here a few:
A great day, and great trip was coming to an end. I was hoping to get some great pics of the sunset
Enjoyed dinner, then went down to get our bags packed since we had to have them out by midnight. I was cooked, literally. And for the first time, I was experiencing a bit of nausea. I did not sleep well that night. The fact that this dream vacation was soon going to be over did not help.
Day 7- Honolulu
Sunrise over Oahu. It’s coming to an end 
We docked in Honolulu at 8PM. After an early breakfast, we went down to disembark. It went very smooth and quickly.
Our excursion for the day was the tour of the Arizona and Missouri.
After the Missouri, the driver took us up into the mountains north and east of HNL. There was saw the only rain on the entire trip.
We drove back down thru the Punchbowl and got to see more of HNL.
We arrived at the airport around 4PM, for our 9:30PM flight back to Houston. It had been a busy week, and while I was not that tired during the week, it was beginning to catch up with me. We had some dinner, did some more shopping, and then it really did catch up with me. I also knew that it was going to be a long flight home and a long day the following day.
We boarded and left on time. I dont think I remember anything until I saw the sunrise coming thru when we were over Arizona.
We landed in Houston at 9:30 CDT. Our flight to Charleston left at 12:30 CDT, and we arrived at 4:3o EST. From that point, we loaded the car for the four hour trip to Dayton to pick up the dogs, and then the hour drive to Columbus.
We got home around 2AM.
I was up by 7AM. Reality is enjoying your Kona coffee in Ohio, then getting a call to let you know that your job has been eliminated.
As promised, here is a recap of our recent cruise.
I left the office on April 30 thinking I had a 50/50 chance of losing my job. I didn’t give it much thought while on the cruise. As it turns out, the cuts weren’t as drastic as expected, but I was affected.
I went into the cruise with not so high expectations. I had some really bad reviews of the cruise, but, on the hand, I had read some very positives. In the end, the quality of the service, the food and the pleasure we had on the trip far exceeded my highest expectations.
The down side to the trip was that we did not plan our excursions ahead, meaning there were so many things we did not get a chance to see or do. But that’s the downside to the cruise. Your time is limited at each port (with the exception of an overnight stay on Maui and Kauai). What the cruise allowed us is a feel for each of the islands.
Day 1
We drove to Charleston, WV from Columbus, via Dayton (to drop of the dogs) and arrived there at about 10PM on Friday night.
Our flight was scheduled to leave at 6:30 AM on May 1. That meant very little sleep. Personally I was so excited, that I got no sleep. In fact, I slept very little on the trip to Hawaii.
We connected in Houston to Continental Flight 1, arriving in HNL at 12:30 PM HST (six hours behind EDT). The flight was smooth, and wasn’t near as long as I had expected.
We claimed out baggage was was greeted by NCL and were bused to the ship.
Embarkation went really smooth, and we were on the ship within 30 minutes of arriving at the pier. Just as we boarded, they announced that cabins on Deck 9 were ready. Perfect!
The cabin was great. It was a bit small, but then again, the cabin’s only a place to sleep. (The king size bed was super comfortable. If I could have only have found a way to get it home).
We went to the muster drill at 4PM. By the time we got back to our cabin, our bags had arrived. We unpacked and set out to have dinner (Aloha Buffet) and to explore the ship. We also booked our excursion for the next day (Mauna Kea)
We were two hours late leaving HNL as we were waiting for some more passengers whose flights were delayed. They were lucky, since we had to wait for them as they booked their entire package thru NCL. Some were not so lucky and had to find a way to join the cruise in Hilo the next day.
The bed was calling my name by 9PM. It had finally caught up with me. I slept like a baby, and having the cabin door open as we sailed made it even more relaxing.
Day 2- Hilo
I was up early, as I was everyday of the cruise. I really enjoyed watching the sun rise over the Pacific, while enjoying my Kona coffee.
We went up and had breakfast at the Aloha, and then went down to prepare for debarkation at Hilo. That was a bit of a mess, complicated by the fact that we were late docking. We located our tour and we were. At the time, it was sunny and beautiful in Hilo. As it turns out, during the day, a volcanic haze settled in, and it was something we actually had to deal with on every island with the exception of Oahu.
The view from Mauna Kea was incredible.
We were back at the ship by 5PM. We had dinner on the deck of the Aloha. With the clouds and haze it want such a beautiful afternoon in Hilo, but it had still be a great day.
Overnight sail from Hilo to Kahuilu (Maui).
Day 3- Kahuilu
Another beautiful sunrise as we were getting ready to dock in Kahuilu.
We arrived on time, and debarkation went really smooth today.
My appointment: a ride of Haleakala. I opted to rent a bike and do it on my own. The excursions did not appeal to me. Don’t bus me up, and let me ride down on cruisers. Or should I say coast down on cruisers.
Ever since I took up cycling a couple of years ago, I’ve been wanting to ride up Haleakala for the challenge of the ride.
We got our rental car, picked up the bike, and headed for Paia. After a brief stop at Hookipa Beach.
Time to start the climb. (The others were going to drive the Road to Hana, and drove part way up the climb). They drove back down and we made arrangements to meet in Paia. The weather started cloudy muggy.
The most frustrating part of the whole trip… I forgot my camera in the car in my rush to get started. But I will always have the experience. The ride up did get cooler, and the clouds did break a bit. I went up to 9000 ft (approx) and decided I should ride back down as to not miss the meetup with my group.
Our meeting time was perfect. I arrived about five minutes before our predetermined meet time. Got loaded up, and then back to the ship and what became a difficult time in trying to locate a parking space for the rental car. It was then time for a long shower and a huge dinner. It was prime rib night at the Aloha. Then we went to shore to have a few drinks at a local bar (those 4.75 beers on the ship were getting expensive).
We were in bed by 9:30 PM. Had to rest up for another day.
Day 3- Kahuilu
Another early start. We had to make the most of the time we had available since 4:30 was the all aboard.
Started out by going to… Wal-Mart. Yikes. I can do that at home.
Picked up a few souvenirs, then off the Iao Valley State Park.
We dropped off the rental car about 3PM. We were back to the ship with plenty of time left. So I decided to get into my swimsuit, get some sun, and see us sail away to our next stop- Kona
First, the cruise was FANTASTIC!! We had a great time, the weather was superb. We came back relaxed, refreshed, and well tanned!
We got back Sunday night. Monday morning , I received the call that I was dreading, but still, prepared for. I have been laid off. Good package, so not an immediate press of the panic button. If I had not been so relax and rested, it would have been mucho stress. But for now, we are good.
It was great to get back on the bike. I gained only two pounds on the cruise! And that is a shocker!
I’ll provide a more detailed account of the cruise later. Still lots of catching up to do, and over 1900 pics to sort thru
