Super Squadra

Having grown up in the Metroplex, I consider Dallas the heart and soul of Texas crit racing. The area’s affinity for the racing style is due mostly to one factor: an abundance of concrete. Everywhere you go, you can’t help but think, this would make and entertaining and easy to organize criterium. Thus, from the age of 19 onward, when I finally took up bike racing, the subtleties of Texas crit racing—including the art of taking a corner at 30 plus mph sans brakes, racing all out for an hour in 100 degree heat, and the brutalness of getting guttered in stiff North Texas winds lap after lap—were taught to me by the legends of Big D: Croz, Miley, Carleson, and others.



The State Championships weekend for me then, is more than just a couple of fun parking lot crits and a jewel of an event at the Will Rogers Center in downtown Ft. Worth. It’s a homecoming. Luckily, on Sunday and Monday, I had the legs to put those early learned lessons to use. On Sunday, I found myself in a smoothly working 9-man break at the GS Tenzing criterium in Frisco only 20-minute into the 90-minute event. With 5-laps to go, I launched what I hoped would be a break splitting move , but instead found myself alone off the front with a sizable gap. Rather than wait for help, I decided to put my head down and go for it. After three laps solo, a Colavita rider and Carlos Vargas of TX Tough-THSJ bridged across to me. Unfortunately, they were tapped out from their effort and in no position to add assistance to the move. As the group came back together with one to go, rising star Ryan Wohlrabe of Bicycle Heaven launched a perfectly timed attack. My own counter a half lap later netted me second place, but without enough road to chase down Ryan. Kudos to him. Phil soloed in from a chase group to net ninth place for the second consecutive day and secure some valuable TXBRA points. Personally, I could only hope for the same legs a day later at Texas’ marquee criterium event.

With 100-starters on a 9-turn course (the chicane counts as 3 in my book), the state championship criterium is one of the few Texas races where competitors make a point of lining up 15-minutes before the start. Both Wenger and I got off the line quickly and were soon joined by Phil at the front of the pack. We played it conservative for the first 30-minutes with TX Tough-THSJ well in command of the front of the field and no serious moves off the front. About half way through I launched from the front, both to test my legs, nab some primes, and try to draw out some guns from the field to join me. After a couple laps solo, there was no evidence of a bridging group, and I retreated to the safety of the pack.

This is when Dave took over for Phil, who’d been covering move after move all day long. A couple hard pulls by Dave to bring back a solo Andrew Dahlheim (TX Tough-THSJ) strung out the field and set me up for a break forcing attack on the uphill drag through the start-finish area. Joining me were Christian Helmig of Metro VW, who’d recently been lighting up the Tour of Arkansas, TX Tough-THSJ sprinter Tyler Jewell, and Karl Kupecz of Velossimo. After catching Dahlheim the five of us rode together with purpose, if not cohesion, until Helmig attacked for a $100 prime with 4 laps to go and was never seen again. The chase group disintegrated to only myself and Jewell. Not wanting to take him mono a mono at the line, I put in a big dig to secure second place with a lap to go. He was able to catch my wheel and later get me in the sprint. Still, we were ecstatic with our third podium appearance of the weekend. Super Squadra marches onward.

Last night’s driveway was held in warm temps and glorious waning sunlight. Without a significant THSJ presence (were there any?) the racing was destined to be less aggressive. However one Stefan can offset an entire team of attackers if he’s so inclined. Wenger and I were the only squadra members able to attend but with him in the KOD jersey, it was worth giving it the old college (he wasn’t there either) try. Racing started out calmly but following an early prime, the Velossimmo attacks managed to split the group. At the “break’s” largest point it was 8-9 riders but little cooperation. Sol ripped my legs off until both of us got dropped only to latch back on after a slowing. It became clear Wenger and Stefan weren’t going to be given an inch so I bridged across to Loren Dodson with one rider in tow. We worked together for the final 15 minutes with little incident. In the finale, I punched it before the hill started, cramped a bit, saw the others weren’t really coming back, punched it again and was able to coast in comfortably after the chicane. I’m looking forward to the KOD jersey so when skinny mini’s like Stefan and Will Ross get it back it’ll be like a funny car’s parachute on them. Sorry guys!

I’m sure that things should go better in 2008 than in 2005 with Serotta HSG Carbon, SRAM Force, Zipp 404 wheels, Zipp Tangente Tires, Zipp Transition Towel, Zipp duffel, Specialized shoes, helmet, floor pump, bottles cages, saddle bag with tubes, and optics.

Check out State Crit 2005!

If a picture is worth 1000 words than this post is Jenna and Laura Bush’s Read All About It! A weekend away from the house is fortunately more than just chamois cream and blow up mattresses.  Enjoy

Here’s Ian in his “non-leader’s” jersey after snagging third place at the Bear Creek Criterium. The winners, team Orven from Monterrey, Mexico made out a little better.

To the victor go the spoils… but good luck convincing border patrol you’re not smuggling something elicit in a TIE-DYE BENTLEY!

Afterwards we ate some recovery food. These competitors appeared to be on a huge sugar crash. It’s a real shame seeing how there’s a table of Sam’s Club-sized bags of snackies right behind them. Oh the humanity we can’t just reach out and tell them to turn around and gorge on the sweet guac and oreo’s.

Steven was pretty panicked as his USCF race license was in his wallet which had gone missing. Ian’s sharp eyes found the perpetrator and took him down with a hail of wasabi peas.

Later on that evening Steven and I went to see some English chaps at a small pavilion show. There weren’t many attendees so we were able to sit in the fourth row. Free tibet!

After the show we returned to LaFico’s parent’s crib in one of the older neighborhoods in Houston.

Once there I told the guys about the haircut and shave I was hoping to get prior to Steven’s wedding.

Houston Grand is an event on the rise. Promoter George Hammerlein is a racer’s friend which he accomplishes by focusing primarily on what best serves his sponsors. Though the course has remained largely unchanged in its three years of existence, George’s goal is to bring in the fans which will bring in the sponsors which brings in the money which definitely brings the racers. This year the course actually went one block further into downtown than in years prior. We can only hope George is making a gradual and sneaky move towards a true downtown six-corner crit with this move. Additionally the course was run counter-clockwise which made for a LOOOONG out and back circuit punctuated by the tight two-corner finish. In other words, we love this course as it fits the two extremes of our team. Wheeler and Wenger are long-haul big engine types who prefer to stretch their launches out. Dille and I are punchy guys who prefer short bursts of effort that match our muscle fibers and attention spans.

Well when it came down to the actual racing, things were looking really good from the gun. The race started out blazing fast and before we knew it, Ian and David were safely in the break of six featuring two Orven members and two Squadra kids, one THSJ in Tyler Jewell and Houston’s favorite energy-monger, Kevin Kremke. It wouldn’t be much later though that the riders started coming back at us. First Tyler followed by Ian a few laps later. The four riders continued to work together at over 28mph mile after mile as attacks perpetually launched and fizzled behind. After nearly 75 minutes, the group’s gap was tenuous and appeared it David’s brave escape would end. There was some confusion in the break as one Orven rider appeared to stop in the pit (officials were divided as to whether the tire was actually flat and whether the rider took a pit wheel) without just cause but rejoined the break a lap later from the pits. This rider then proceeded to trade attacks with the remaining Orven member in the break disrupting the smooth dynamic of the breakaway. With less than two laps to go, they come back into the fold and 60 riders begin their gallop towards victory.

My day starts at this point. As we head through the bottom of the course the field starts to line up. Instead of dueling trains of Orven/THSJ they are lined up behind each other. In a late move Dille charged up and kept me out of the wind on the right side of the train. I preferred the left and eventually shuffled myself back over there. With the construction narrowing, exhausted leadout men and manhole covers populating the final 500m, the right side of the train was way too dangerous. Finally the tense moments were over, I was fourth wheel going into the last two corners of the race. I thought. As I railed the first corner I was met with the unfamiliar feeling of squish. The borrowed wheel’s tire was squirming and skidding as Ian and soon others went shooting past me. I gingerly took the last corner and finished the race seated barely holding onto to placings. I would finish 7th with Ting and Dille managing 15th and 16th.

To go from wonder-Wenger in the break to me unable to contest the finish was certainly a reversal of fortune. We were disappointed with the placing but relieved no further bodily harm was done (at least I was). My Zipp 404’s spoke which failed in Saturday’s crit will be available for the big weekend ahead. We are going to miss Alan for the three-day school of crit racing held in DFW over Memorial Day weekend but wish him luck and speed out in LA. Thanks again George Hammerlein for your stellar event and we’ll see you next year for your latest and greatest attempt at Grandeur.

Flat, fast, and fun accurately describes this somewhat low-key race that took place in Houston’s Bear Creek Park on Saturday. With Sunday’s Houston Grand Criterium containing nearly quadruple the prize list and attracting a slightly deeper field, Saturday’s race, for most, acted as a warm-up event. After only 10-minutes of racing on the swooping course, punctuated by a tight chicane slightly before the finish, the correct combination of riders from each team got together and our five-man break surged out to a quick lead. Within 45-minutes the break—which contained NWCC wonder kid Lawson Craddock, Bike Barne’s Mitch Comardo, Andrew Dahlheim of TX Tough-THSJ, and Orven rider Hector Rangel—had lapped the field and I was instructed by Wenger to save my bullets for the finish. With Wheeler patrolling the front and Orven setting tempo, a field sprint was assured. Props go to Dave and Phil who jumped the seemingly 20-man Orven train with a half lap to go and took me into the final corner squat on Phil’s wheel. Unfortunately, I hesitated a second too long before coming off of Phil and got jumped by Dahlheim and Rangel on the inside with other rider’s boxing me to the right. We ended up on the podium again, a trend that we’ve happily maintained at seemingly every race for the last couple months, but were a bit disappointed not to snag the V. (It’s a stigma that comes with riding full carbon Serotta’s, and one I’ll happily accept.) Many thanks to the Southwest Cycling Club for putting on this event, complete with Metallica soundtrack blasting in the last turn.

Here we go. Los Angeles’ 250 meter 44 degree track in all her glory. LA’s velodrome is one of the finest in the world, and many riders’ intangible dreams have become a reality at this venue. This coming weekend is one of great importance for the five riders on the Squadra: four head to Dallas and myself to the City of Angels. For the road squad, Memorial Day weekend is packed with racing for real men. There is no place to hide, no opportunity to merely sit on, and no champagne for the meek. However challenging these criteriums may be, the opportunity to slip on the State Champion jersey is something that motivates even the most docile of riders. This ecstasy is one that David Wenger is familiar with, and when he is on, it can be scary. Watch out for the “Fantastic Four”.

As for myself, Thursday morning I will jet out to LA for a shot at making the USA Junior track team (and to say hi to Spears and Lohan for Steven). Because the Olympics are this year, Worlds have been moved further up the calendar and fall before Junior Nationals, the usual qualifier. This makes it a little awkward, and now selection is based solely off of time standards which seem to be set for the track gods. Only seventeen, I still have next year for another go. However I’m not going to LA to just ride circles. With only a week to go, the nerves are present, and hopefully I can channel this energy into some fixed gear fury. Please wish me luck!

Back in time in LA

It’s been four years since I’ve competed in an NRC stage race. How do I know this? Because when I registered online for this year’s Joe Martin Stage Race, in the Ozark Mountains of Fayetteville, Arkansas, I neglected to edit my team name information, subsequently re-aligning myself with my former, and now defunct elite amateur squad, Team Snow Valley. The goof up led to much ribbing by my friends and former teammates, many of whom are now full fledged members of the pro peloton.

Some said they thought they’d seen a ghost when looking at the start list, others (a Canadian) asked what I was doing back in the pro field — and with all that extra “muscle”, while most simply said, “nice to see you again.” Sure, it made me feel good, being welcomed back. But nostalgia is little help when racing against the nation’s best. Goal one for me was to finish all four days. Goal two: Get a result. Any result.

During the first two days of Joe Martin I rode well enough not to get time cut, and that was about it. I finished 68th in the 2.5 mile, up hill time trial through Devil’s Den State Park. I was happy with my ride, even though I’ll need to go about a minute faster than the 9:45 I posted to be competitive in this event. I didn’t explode on the climb, yet finished with everything I had — my former teammate and current Rite Aid team manager John Wirsing yelled, “big ring Dille!” as I sprinted across the line in my 39×15.

With HealthNet securely in the lead heading into day two’s 110-mile road race, I expected a controlled ride through most of the day with the main fire works occurring on Mount Gaylor, an 11-mile climb that undulates continuously before plummeting downhill for 20-miles and finishing in downtown Fayetteville. I sat at the back for most of the day and chatted with riders as they came back for bottles from their team cars. Brad Huff, competing in his first major race since overcoming early season knee problems, was in considerabe awe of our Serottas, saying, “Dille, you’re the only dude in here on a $10,000 dollar bike! The rest of us are riding pieces of carbon fiber manufactured in China, and here you are on hand built frame.” Did I mention Brad Huff is awesome?

Once the field hit Mount Gaylor the pace was on and off as the climb pitched upward then frequently flattened out–giving the feeling that we were essentially motor pacing up a mountain. I’d ridden this climb several times during my formative days on the Fort Smith based Mercy Cycling Team, and always forgotten where exactly the top of the hill was. This day was no different. I started congratulating myself on making it over the top with the front group of 50-or-so riders and drifted to the back of the field, when suddenly the climb kicked up again and the pros really laid it down. About 400-meters from the top I popped off and couldn’t catch back on. My day was done and I rode in with my long time buddy Scott Zwizanski, who’d spent the previous 80+miles in the break-a-way.

Finally, on day three, a 92-mile road race around a hilly 23-mile circuit, I started to feel a bit more confident. Like this NRC stage race idea wasn’t such a bad one after all. As the pack surged the final time up the steep feed zone hill, I was able to ride smoothly at the front, and when we turned back toward town, with HealthNet reeling in the break-a-way at 35 to 40 miles per hour on the down hill run, I was able to follow moves and stay well positioned. As the field barreled into the last kilometer, Teddy King, asked me to let him out on the left side. I obliged, thinking, man that’s a long way out to attack. He won. As a Rite Aid rider (Geronimo, I believe) fell back from the front with 300-meters go, he gave a me push on the rear as I made my way toward the front, and, totally spun out, I pedaled with all my might to the line. (Alan, I think I now know what it’s like to sprint with junior gears.) My post finish head count put me somewhere in the top fifteen — but Super Squadra is still anxiously awaiting official results.

Today is the notoriously brutal downtown criterium. Goal one: Finish.

http://changinggears.bicycling.com/2008/05/a-roadies-ode-t.html

Courtesy of Kevin Schaefer.

This race has been the high point of the season so far.

Great work by Sugar Cycles to pull this off and grow the sport into the retailing community.

I can’t wait to race past a Chipotle 70x again next year.

Bicycle Sport Shop p/b Girling is thrilled to have black bottoms.