This is ripped from Adam's blog. http://adambranfman.blogspot.com/

The Pro/Devo Team had a kick ass weekend starting with the Hills of Somerset County RR on Sat in Somerville, NJ. Sparing boring details, we would have finished three guys in the top 15 if our rider in the first break on the road wasn't lead off course with three miles to go in the race. The useless officials said it was HIS fault, after we filed a pritest, and said to Todd that it isn't fair that the other riders actually did the entire race course. This is quite remarkable because the official motorbike was responsible for leading them off course; not only that, the motorbike pulled a u-turn without telling Todd and Dan Vallaincourt and they proceeded to realize two miles later that something was not right as they were headed toward a freeway. Andrew Walters and I made it into the first chase group and finished 14th and 10th respectively for a great day on the bike. The rest of the team finished in the group with some exceptions, including John Hanson who was a superhero riding in a break for 30 miles and then vomiting on the side of the road, along with Kevin who also rode in several breaks and pulled out due to a revisiting of breakfast on the side of the road if you know what i mean. Some awesome climbs, descents, and hard windy flats. We raced our faces off and had one of our best ever.

Bound Brook went perfectly flawless with the exception of the last 50m when I had to stop pedaling when someone in front of me slammed the brakes. A dissapointing 12th place. The team let it all hang out in pretty badass style the entire race from start to finish and everyone raced brilliantly.

Tour of Somerville, the big NRC show, was yesterday. 175 starters, 108 finishers. That means more than 60 DNF's due to crashes, off the back, and what not. The last ten laps were absolutely terrifying as there was a crash in every lap. I got tied up with 7 to go, when the rider in front of me locked up his wheel to avoid a crash at 30 something mph. About 30 guys went down. I got all tangled up in someone's wheel, did a tuck and roll to prevent further damages, made my way to the pit, and realized both my shifters were effed. Todd went down as well, decided he was done for the day, and threw me his bike to finish up the race. I made it through, a bit of wind taken out of the sails, and crused in for a 42nd place. Not great, but under the circumstances, no problem!

Jerome, the stud that he is, rocked the Cat 2 Tour of Somerville for a stellar 2nd place, with Andrew and Kevin shortly behind in the 'teens. The 2's had an amazing race, controlling things, chasing what they needed to, setting up a perfect finish for everyone to do well. A very proud day.

Other highlights from the weekend:
-A post Bound Brook cooldown/recovery/carb load free beer and garden party at the home of spectators at turn 1
-ice cream
-watching the cotton candy vendor bagging and eating and smoking all at the same time
-port-a-potty costume at Somerville. Amazing
-Jerome cuddling with carbon tubulars in the car
-Jerome getting out on I-95 and taking a walk in the breakdown lane in the Bronx
-Andrew. . .or somethin' like that
-Todd's parent's home cooking
-bunny rabbits
-pretzels
-everyone seriously racing their asses off, getting results, and having a wicked insanely awesome time together. That's what bike racing season is about.

Okay, lacrosse is over and school is out on the 3rd. That means I will have time to really train. I did get in 100 miles last weekend, paid dearly for it for days. Aside from that, 200 mile weeks will increase to 300 and there will be at least 6 races in June. Start with a crit, as my fat ass couldn't climb a bridge at this point. So, Bethel Crit June 2nd (Cat 3 and Pro-3), Balloon Fest in NY (35+), Housatonic Hills (35+) and Union Vale (35+). By the end of June I will either be fit or fried, angry, and addicted to donuts and buffalo wings. Get on your pony and ride!

Martin

I didn't race this past weekend due to the house, but last weekend was the first Michaux race of the season. I had originally planned on going to Dirt Sweat and Gears in TN, but time was tight and the idea of taking 4 days away from the house was not going to happen.
Preparation for the race was spotty, but I made it to the start line on time. I was excited since Dain at WTB had sent me some new tires for the season and I was go to run the biggest tires had ever fit into my frame, some WeirWolf 2.55's. They are relatively light and the volume was just what Michaux calls for. These are my favorite races. One 43 mile loop of the most ridiculous terrain you can imagine. At one point we were literally riding up a creek. No path, just the stream bed. Very tasty stuff. I'd had a pretty good run in Michaux for the past three years. I think only one flat in 8 races. No mechanicals. This time my card was punched and I found myself with a punctured front tire in the first piece of singletrack. I thought the hole was small enough to seal up with the Stan's. Lesson one of the day was to just change it and don't waste time. I sat there turning the tire this way and that, adding air and hoping it would seal before too many people passed.
Exasperated I eventually pulled the tube out of my back pocket and realized that I had been duped by a Chris Scott. I had packed the tube he had given me as a backup at the Dragon's Back. A 700x38-45. Trying to match that to my new set of WTB Weirwolf 2.55 tires didn't seem like the best choice so I dug out a full sized 29er tube from my seatpack. Since it was early in the race I ended up being passed by a large number of people, which meant I had some passing to do, in the narrowest singletrack on earth. The good angle to the situation was the people I got to see, that I normally don't see at the races, and I got to pretend that I was riding with them for a bit. Apologies go out to the people I passed in sketchy sections, but I have to admit it's way fun to pull stupid lines.
I didn't bring my A game to Michaux, and the first puncture was a result of rough trail and a line not carefully chosen. Same goes for the second flat. I had just worked my way into 5th place at the infamous Graves ridge section when I flatted again. This time the rear. Another puncture I thought would seal up. I put a lot of effort into making it seal since I knew all I had was the Chris Scott gag tube. The result was a flat tire, no more CO2 and a sign pointing in the direction of the 25 mile loop. A little discouraged, I sort of sat there and stared at my stupidity when Ryan Leech rode by, offered me his pump and left me with the ability to keep riding. Shit! Just when thought I had an out. Pumping up a 700c tube inside of a 2.55 monster tire ranks up there with the awkward feeling of being the first to test a freshly tied rope swing. Or biting into a medium cooked hamburger that's still pink and gooey on the inside. The tube was firm before it even touched the sides of the WeirWolf tire. I imagined the 700c tube to be stretched as thin as Rip Torn's hair.

I stared at my tire for a bit, and wondered how I was going to get that excuse for a tube through 30 more miles of rock, and I hadn't even gone up the stream bed yet. After a minute of contemplating heading home, Mike Keefer came by me and I figured I wanted to ride any ways so might as well go with Mike. After a few minutes of chatting and talking family and life I figured I might as well try and make some money back. I was about 25 spots back from the cash, so what the hell, and I always like the idea of fighting back. Plus it gave me the opportunity to catch Topher who was somehow running as 1st single speed.

Again, the race was on. I grabbed a tube at aid station 2, after the 2mile Deadwoman's Hallow climb. Dropped off the back of the ridge and continued realing people in. By the time I got to the 3rd aid station I learned I was in fourth, with 3rd only about 2 minutes up. That was encouraging and I thought I had about 10 miles to go. Unfortunatly the information wasn't totally accurate, and three miles later I was at the finish line. Oh well. 5th wasn't bad, got my entry back and got to do some great riding.
This weekend I'm heading to the Shenandoah valley for a two day out and back 160 mile mtb ride. Look out...Peace out...

The Coolest 24hr race is a special event ...Jim Northey the director and event
creator donates all proceeds to cancer research-this year it totaled out near
50,000.Despite being held on the same weekend as the adrenalin race 30mins
from home I loaded my lovely pregnant wife into the rig and drove toward Tahoe
to Cool,Ca. I knew the competition would be heavy in the Solo Singlespeed
division mainly because my main 2 rivals in the state lived there ...Roger
Lackey and the kid..Dezmin Wilder 19yr old studd...I think I'm older then his
father who times each lap from the meticulously laid out pit.
We started well with Roger, Dez and myself taking to
the front with the lead geared rider breaking the wind. The course was fast
and dusty-meaning you had to be right on someone's wheel or 300 yards back so
the dust could move on before you rode thru it.We all came thru within 30
seconds of one another in sub hour laps with dust covered bodies and faces. It
was during my first couple of laps that I felt topped out on my 32x18 -I was
being thrown around and bumped from my smp saddle,the legs were feeling great
but I was all over the gear; on all the climbs I would cruise thru the geared
and team riders only to be brought back on the flatter sections- there was no
power stroke for me and that is my style - I'd prefer to be a bit behind the gear.
Despite using the new ERgon grips (which have completely changed my riding and
downhill speed they are for me-sooo comfy)-props for bringing them on
board...if you have not tried them ..DO...then you might even take that heavy
suspension fork off and ride the IF no travel-the most responsive fork on the
market..oops sorry;by the days end I was steering through the rocks and rivers
with my mind and a quick flick of the wrist...this course was super fast and I
was seeing 61k on my cateye just before this big left turn into a fast sniper
laiden turny section with many flat rocks curiously placed. By lap 6 My back
and shoulders began to scream as I was thrown about the course dodging the
sniper rocks hidden under the dutsy singletrack.
....I debated a wheel switch to grab a 17 on the rear but
decided to leave it alone for fear of overcooking it too early. I set out with
a relaxed and consistent pace about an 1hr 10mins each lap- but the heat and
sugar soon paid it's toll.The lap times were consistent until I fell ill in
the gut and began loosing all nutrition while trying to remain riding -puking
and pedaling has become an art for me. Once I was purged I thought I could
step it up so I tried to pick up the pace but had no calories in me ...so I
had to hop off and begin refueling...I took a 1/2hr to refuel which brought me
over the 2hr mark on one lap!!-never a good thing when you are trying to stay
on the lead lap- I fell to like 13th place...but I kept telling myself I'd get
them later into the night...my night laps hurt less as the pace slowed to
match my gearing -also not a good thing but I felt a lot more comfortable and
was only puking when I tried sports food...So I began inhaling water and
stayed with water for 16hrs not an once of anything else would remain in my
stomach....I stayed calm hoping others would be having the same or similar
issues-not that I wish ill will but these things tend to happen to a couple of
competitive riders each race. Roger was the first to go ...I had heard from
Dez as we climbed together that Roger was getting sick ...but I had my hands
full with 2 other riders that were see sawing with me...3rd thru 8th were all
within 15 minutes.
My legs never waivered....but the stomach ruined my day as I spent a
good portion of the climbs loosing whatever food was left...I had to save what
was left for some fast morning laps....I never really had any doubts of
finishing which is odd but the doubts of being competitive were reeking havoc
on me....I wanted a good showing and to place higher then the 3rd place I got
last year because I had tremendous support this year from the Domer and his
wife Weston not to mention my wife(Tina) who actually was up massaging me at
4am while her friend Lindsey doctored a grilled cheese ..my morning laps
were tremendous and back well under 1.5 hours but I had given 2 guys way too
much room ahead of me and 3 guys around me hope. Dez rode away with the race
and probably the overall on his 34x19 gearing- a gear I had played a lot with
leading into the event...me I was left to fight for 3rd thru 8th and finished
my last lap in 1hr 9mins- a pissed 4th
After looking at my times it is apparent the stop at night
to massage my neck ,shoulders and back (albeit necessary) cost me deeply-what
else is new - but with the others not pitting- those differences provided them
with gaps. I also could not find the love that I found at Old Pueblo earlier
in the year...I could not find the right song to sing and my stomach really
prevented me from having too much fun-which is critical for me to win one of
these solo events- 195 miles 16 laps

for now I have to wallow painfully over this one until the saddle sores
and callouses subside and my time comes again.

Labels: racing

While half the team was out at Collegiate Nats in Colorado only 5 of us contested the Sterling Road Race. This is a hard 80 mile race that nearly always breaks apart. Today was no different. Adam got into the first break so, Tom, Tommy, Sam, and I could take a back seat for the first lap. On the "Wall" Adam came back and we worked to bring back the break. Tommy and Sam took turns getting into breaks for the next couple laps and watched the front attentively. Nothing was sticking.

Half way through, after many attempts, I got into a good break that stuck that included Mark McCormick. We rolled smoothly for 3 laps getting over 3 minutes on the field. A group of 8 riders bridged up to us, lead my Alec Donahue. I sat up for a moment on the back, at totally the wrong time. Alec, Mark, and Dan Cassidy slipped of the front and no one chased. I couldn't believe they let the 3 strongest guys roll off like that and I was sitting at the back, getting ready for it while it went. Duh!! I attacked the chase and got sooooo close, but my legs just said "you drank a little too much last night, buddy...it ain't gonna happen." On the last lap I went away with 2 miles to go and looked to be ensured a 5th or sixth place, but my legs froze up in the "Wall" finish and I ended up 11th. Not bad for someone who probably drank more than the entire peloton last night. Everyone else finished, while more than half the peloton dropped out.

We'll, here we are again at the beginning of the racing season (for me at least), wondering what the season will hold in store for us (me). New challenges this year with the new schedule (read stay at home dad). Training has been good thus far, I'm on schedule for the century a month plan. Some good miles with that so far, mostly solo, utilizing my sexy Ti Crown Jewel. The Sunday group thing has been fairly solid. So how does the first race unfold? I'll tell you. I goes like this.

The week before the race is when I like to chill, regroup and do some mild relaxing rides (commutes) and focus on stretching and hydration. Unfortunately duty calls in many forms, massage schedule, bikes to be repaired, diapers to be changed and washed. That's right we wash em' instead of disposing of them. This is part of my Team Green contract. So needless to say (although I've already stated it) my pre-race week was different than I'm used to.

Skipping ahead to the start. Lots of the usual suspects are on hand. Some fresh from their Spanish training mission, others back from their fixed gear hundred mile experiment in TN. Last years main competition for the overall SS is now shifting gears. The course has changed a bit but is mostly the same.

BANG!..... and their off. I have no intent no killing it early and suffering early. I find a mildly uncomfortable pace and settle in. Slowly finding my way through the traffic in the first single track, I see some of the front runners in the distance and feel good about my start. Then Michaux starts to have its way with the field. I see my man Huber with his shiftie bike, blown cassette body, "Sorry Dude". I find a friend with a similar groove, fellow SSer Chad Miller of Baltimore, aboard his rigid IF deluxe. We work together and find our way to the first fire road section after about a dozen of the advertised fifty miles. Riding steady and fairly conservative we roll through the next trail section with little trouble. We then find the next victim of Michaux. Super Star, Spanish Training, Timmy D. He's holding what look like copper wires. Oh, those are his Industry Nine spokes. His fitness was second to none, but the trail could care less about fitness. We press on. We clear the ominous Grave Ridge and begin to move toward Dead Woman's Hollow Road, the first of three serious climbs. I feel a little tight and opt to hoof it a bit. Chad does the same. We spy the next SSer up the trail hoofing as well. At the top we're greeted by a troop of supporting volunteers. PB&J, bananas, h20, beer just what every racer needs. A quick look back and we're joined by the fixed gear mad man Tomi McMillar. We have a quick chat on the road out of the checkpoint and separate as the horizon falls away. Now at the bottom again we begin to move toward the beginning of our next climb. Chad is showing to be the better climber today, I feel technically sound but the legs are staging a protest. He creeps away and out of sight as I switch to cramp survival mode. Mr. Fixie has been climbing like a champ and finds me a while later as we ascend a stream bed, complete with cold running water. Kinda sucks when a man riding 1800's technology is out riding you. I could go on to say how I felt as my tight legs wouldn't let me climb, but I know you've all been there. However, I did enjoy a speedy flowing pace on the following trail sections. If there had only been fun trail to the finish. The bottom line is a 7th place SS finish with 5:15 elapsed,on a course just shy of fifty miles.

On the whole it was an awesome day in the woods. Great trails, perfect weather, good friends, and cold beer, ya know the important stuff. I had my "Little Buddy" on hand for his second bike race as a spectator. I think he likes it (of course he does, bikes are the coolest).

My next event on the schedule is the Tour 'da Burg. I'll keep you all updated on the progress of my new parenting/riding/racing experience. Til then, keep it on the wheels and your feet on the pedals.

Buck

P.S. If you use a pack when you ride/race, check out the ERGON packs. (Full disclosure, I'm a bit of a pack snob) My new ERGON pack is the most comfortable pack yet......and it has a built in whistle!!

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