Road Stories

Mississippi Grand Prix

2008-04-18T06:26:00.001-07:00

Well, yesterday we drove down to Brookhaven, MS. Now that we are here we will be going out for an easy ride this morning and then get ready for the crit tonight. Weather Channel says it might rain. SUCK. Tight crit with rain equals recipe for disaster. The MS Grand Prix is a Crit on Friday, RR and TT on Saturday and then a Short Circuit on Sunday. I did this race back in 05' but did not have teammates in the race due to a bad crash in the Friday night crit. This year will be different and we will do better. Its time we all get on the podium! We have a great team and now its time to show everyone else.

Results coming soon..

Vuelta Interlude 2

2006-10-14T21:43:00.000-07:00

Interlude #2 – Destination: Mts

En route to the climbing stage. We get escorted by the Federales to the next stage in Creel, Ch. My mom said “you are going to race in the “sierra” I have no idea what I’m getting myself into. Heck it’s an experience for something new. The organizers are taking about making this race even bigger for next year. By the way, they televised the race on fox sports. Sweet.

Vuelta Chihuahua Day 3

2006-10-14T21:20:00.000-07:00

Well, today was another day on the saddle. Stage 2 is a 122km race. They said this stage is one of the flat ones, HA! Yeah right. If you love the track and crit racing you would have thought this race was one of the hilliest you have ever seen. The profile didn’t look so bad but once you got on the road an actually felt the elevation change and the roads, you would have thought other wise. We rolled for 10km neutral. People everywhere at the start of the race. I have never seen anything like this. Great Vuelta Chihuahua experience so far. I lined up at the start of the race at the front this time. We rolled out and after they waved us for the start of the race an Italian rider attacks on a small climb and takes off. After a couple of counters from other teams I decided to give it a go and was closing in (I got my 15 min on TV, Ha) Tecos and Canels worked together and reeled me in pretty quick. When I looked back I thought it was a motorcycle coming up to me but nope, it was the field single file behind tecos and canels. A few km passed and I started getting thirsty and hungry and the open feed didn’t open until 44km. At the pace we were going my body started asking for food/water a lot faster then ever before. I made myself a domestic because no one else on the team wanted to take the chance of getting dropped from the main field. No real results today but a great experience of cramping and leg pain. Tecos ended up with the win today. I need to start working on my climbing.

After the race (see below) It was sweet, this is the first time people asked me for autographs. The pain was worth it in the end. Seeing kids and grown people’s faces when they asked made me feel good for doing something for them. The real Fans in MX.

Vuelta Interlude 1

2006-10-14T20:59:00.000-07:00

Here is a nice picture of us en route to the flat stage.

And of course what is to come

Oh crap is right!

Vuelta Chihuahua Day 2

2006-10-11T12:39:00.000-07:00

Well another day down. Today was the 80km Circuit race. It consisted of two 180 degree turns and 4km long. Everything has been running on time. I told the guys yesterday that I will be going for the intermediate sprints today. I rode from my home across to Juarez and made it just in time for the race start. No, I wasn’t procrastinating again, I had built my bike the nite before and found out I had a broken seat post clamp. Knowing all bike shops around the city open at 10am, I had to call Jaime and hope he had an extra clamp. But back to today, I finally get my seat clamp fixed and heat to Juarez, which is 3miles from home, how sweet is that. Not ever having experience racing in MX, I didn’t know what to expect. My boy Chris would have love it!, The pace was Attack from the start and don’t stop until the end. After yesterdays antics I decided to give it a go, but giving it a go meant I have to go over 35mph. As soon as one attack went another was waiting to go. Attacks up the left and counters up the right. Mid way was into the race were points up for grabs. (seen above) With 1 lap to go, a break that had the Leaders Jersey was never brought back, it is surprising that none of the Mexican teams worked to bring it back. My teammate gave me a hell of a lead out but it was 150 meters to short for me. He gave it is all and dropped me off 3rd going into the last 180. I thought I drank enough water but as soon as I stood up to sprint my right leg just locked up. I didn’t want to ruin the chance I had been presented with and gave it all I had. Top 20 for the 1st stage. Now we have a 4hr drive to Chihuahua.
Here I’m after the race.

Vuelta Chihuahua

2006-10-10T18:28:00.000-07:00

Well after a grueling 4km I felt pretty good. We got to the start of the race well over an hour before to sign in, take pictures and get everything ready and dialed with the TT bike. The weather is a bit of a change from Dallas. I guess I have become adjusted to the humid weather. Juarez had a great turn out and the prologue went on without any problems. I warmed up, got ready and I thought I rode a sweet time, only to be told that I rode a 4.54 instead of a 4.39 of what i clock at. I guess people warned me about those kind of mistakes occuring in mx racing. Oh well! Tomorrow is the first stage and I'm the only one that can screw that up. My purpose here is to race for the points jersey. My legs are feeling like they did in ELk Grove, Il and well that says a lot to me. I will try and get some sweet photos of my future adventures., and me having fun! Ha., Oh yeah, i'm at 4500 ft of alt.
1st day prologue- 55th place SUCK - wait just got updated, now i'm 56th
1st place clocked 4.23 avg spd of 49.278 Yeah right, that is world record times on the track
I was 4.54 avg speed of 44.082km
Toodles.

Here is a sweet Picture of Leo and Jaime (UCI 2.2 - you gotta have fun)

H n' H

2006-08-29T08:47:00.000-07:00

A picture does say a thousand words!!! Hard work and great team work did it this past weekend. The smallest "team" in the race showed its strength and was able to come out with the win!!!! Great showing is all I have to say. If you look closely you see me in the back celebrating our win.
Hopefully a sign of things to come for this team.
Also a quick note : this is the first time Edgar ever raises his arms up.

Doing my part of the job.

The Man

2006-08-24T08:46:00.000-07:00

Here I'm finally being an "A" lister. After seeing him in the movie the Hard Road (about pro cyclist) I figured I can't become one before hanging out with one. Here is my proof. Horner (the man) and Frayre

National Championships

2006-08-24T07:30:00.000-07:00

Here I'm getting ready for the start of the race. I got a great spot at the front. I tried to do everything I could to stay relaxed and comfortable at the front of the race.

I was top 20 all day long or tried to stay there. A few times the race was so easy that the group would get bunched up at the front and next thing you know you go from top 20 to mid pack of 180 riders. With 8 90degree corners it was a bit intimidating pushing other guys you have never raced with out of the way. With less than 20 laps to go of 50 laps. My buddy and partner in crime decides to push someone way bigger than him during a corner, but ofcourse it had to be the last corner in front of a crowd. He flicks his front wheel to hold it up, as I'm conscious of what is about to happen, my first thought is, you better hold it up and keep it up homo. Ofcourse not, he flicks his front wheel for a second time and loses it. I'm about 3 guys back and try to avoid and head for the hay bale. minimal damage to the "el matador" but good. No the only think that played a trick on me was fear. I realized I was riding fearlessly until then. I was taking corners like I was riding by myself. 10 laps to go I was hitting my breaks like an old lady in her chevy impala in a traffic jam. I ended up rolling in 80 something. I was feeling great and some of the pictures show that, other than I was ready for my podium picture. It was great to be riding with Surfer at the front. He looks pretty good in blue. Oh well, i will be back hungrier next yr.

Downers Grove Pro/Am

2006-08-24T07:24:00.000-07:00

Here I'm following Chris Wherry (Pro RR National Champ) around on the crit. Staying close, well as close to the front as I could come on saturday's pro/am race. I felt like I was pushing it a bit but I ended up actually getting on a small break with a few pro's. Being the only amature in the break they wanted me to work and well I couldn't do much. I dropped out of the race with 8 laps to go. I wanted to save it for the next day. National Championships.

Nutritional Training

2006-08-14T16:15:00.000-07:00

So, I found out how most of the pro's train. They all do the "suga!" Doping.

Tour of Elk Grove

2006-08-14T15:51:00.000-07:00

Tour of Elk Grove was fast, fast, fast. Sat was a cat 2 only race. I was ready and felt great. I attacked from the start like my buddy Chris Hamilton loves to do. Off we go for the first lap and with the field strung out the racing really started. 50 dollars here, 50 dollars there, every other lap they were giving primes. I was there with one purpose and that was for upgrade points. with 2 90degree turns and 2 180 degree turns the race was a little sketchy. Ofcourse the race didn't go on with out a crash. With 3 laps to go I made a conscious effort to move up and place myself with in the top 10 but a break of 3 has gone up the rode. 2 laps to go and I'm still sitting in the top 10. Bell lap and attacks start to go. Andrew tried to set me up for the field sprint. When he got to the front he tried to make sure we were thru the last 90degree safely. To no avail the group attacked on the left side of us and on the right, when I noticed it I excellerated and got on with the eager field. 800 meters from the line I attacked and made sure I was top 5. 500 meters to go and I'm starting to think if I should wait for the last 100 meters. 350 meters, I realize, I'm not a sprinter! I need to go and took off with my sprint, 53-12 at 41mph taking the field sprint and taking 4th. Only bad thing was we came close to the break that I almost passed 3rd place.

Here I'm with 5 to go following Brad Huffy USA.
Bad luck on Sunday. 1.5 laps to go and my chain broke. Atleast it happened here and not at Nationals next weekend.

Superweek #2

2006-07-26T06:10:00.001-07:00

Well after some hard lessons at super week we finally put up some results We crashed, we flatted but all in all we had a great time racing with each other and learnnig what we all could do. This trip we taught us a lot. Our host "The Mindiolas" were nothing short of awesome. They came out to our races and cheered like never before. Our dad, Toni, would call/yell our names and tell us to do something during the race and ofcourse nobody wanted to disappoint. We would show off and attack infront of them or move up and try to show no pain. A couple of times I would be waiving like a high school prom queen in a parade as we would be flying by at 36mph. Ha! People in Wisconsin are friendly, nice, giving, well except for an altercation I had at the local gas station where a girl was fighting with her boyfried, baby dady, whatever he was, aggravated assault, and looked at me and yelled, What the hell are you looking at you dirty spic!, I was not really offended looking at this person and saw how small minded some people could be but then I laughed about it. I though, wait, I just took a shower and I'm smelling good, what is she tallking about dirty ?? Ha! We drove to Greenbay, Sheboygan, Kenosha, Bensenville and Waukesha, and had a great time racing. We look forward to going back for more. Some results we posted. Edgar 21st, Leo 25th, Jaime 30th, against a very talented field. Everynite there was a field of 200, not just some of the best in this country but all over the world. Until next time.

Superweek Bensenville

2006-07-21T14:32:00.000-07:00

Well after being ohere for a week, I have learned a lot about racing. Super fast racing and compared to last year, I finally finished a few races and placed pretty well. In Bensenville, Il I was sitting in on the top 10 with 5 laps to go and feeling great. Myself and Edgar were riding in sink, with 3 to go we moved up and with Kodak Cycling team dictating the pace it was super fast. Everyone started getting antsy and there was too much bumping and pushing and with both of us having a career, we could not risk going down. Edgar broke a spoke and I was pushed out of the front and with 2 to go we decided to just roll in for 54 and 55 of 100 racers.

Tulsa Crit - Friday

2006-06-04T09:09:00.000-07:00

Well today was a fast and, well fast night it was. We started after 9pm and there were parts on the course were visibility was a factor. Launched what i thought was an attack but when the field is already going 32mph you can't really get away from the field. Mercy (mat stephens) attacked up the right side and I attacked up the left. With 3 to go I was caught up in a crash that ended up taking Scott V. out. He used his face as a landing pad. He ended up getting a couple of stitches. Nothing I could do and my race was over. It is really funny getting pulled with 2 to go. Ha. only I could pull that off.

Pre - Tulsa Crits

2006-06-02T17:08:00.000-07:00

Another long drive from dallas to tulsa, Ok after working 24hrs at the station. Let me just say this prize list kicks arse. It has individual payouts. 10,000 every race. 1st - 2,500, 2nd - 1,500, 3rd - 1,000. Now that's a payout. Not only that but they also have an omnium and a team omnium. Lots of cash and lots of amatuers, which makes it a good possibility to get that cash. Again, I had to pay someone to cover my next shift, 200$ out my pocket. Legs and spirit are felling really good and hopefully will be able to help and get some of that cash. Oh yeah, it pays 25 deep!! Wish Edgar would have been able to come, but he couldn't get off work.

Trainer

2006-02-11T18:08:00.000-08:00

This is where i have been spending a lot of the time at 6am on wednesdays. I've being sick for the last 2wks so beside resting and spinning or soft pedaling through a spin class, I've been taking a lot of days off. I have had to compare riding one of these sweet shwinn, to my own bike on a trainer and ofcourse their is no comparison. But is it better riding solo for 1hr or with a class for 1hr? Either way I've yet to hit a group ride for the fear of getting dropped at this point.

This is where I train after taking care of the "medical emergency" calls we get at the station. I try to keep myself motivated. So I drink gatorade, "Is it in you?"

January Trainig Race

2006-01-24T06:19:00.000-08:00

Well with such great weather we knew the first official race of the TX calendar would be fast and hopefully safe. We showed up with Leo F., Edgar I., Henry S., Mike B., Scott K., and Steen R. We know this is still January and still early, so we just wanted to get a feeling of where our training was compared to the rest of the guys. There was a great showing in the Pro 1, 2, 3-field. Everyone showed up and they were ready to show what they had been doing in the off-season. Scott Kaisin went off with a break of about 7 riders and with 83 miles to go, we knew it would come back or so we thought. Henry and Mike Brown were riding strong and at the front of the peloton for the 1st lap of 2. We made the famous right turn into the crosswinds where if you were in the wrong place the guys at the front would make you pay for it and drop you from the field. Brett Crosby from the Specialized factory team was the first casualty of the big guns in that section. With about 2 miles left of that tough crosswind section we knew it would be a tough second lap. Leo was able to punch it at 31mph and hurt the rest of the wounded riders. The field was finally left with about 30 riders trying to catch a field of 10 up the road; they had about 1min on the chase. Edgar looked at Leo and said, “You should have gone earlier and made it to that break!!” As Leo looked at Edgar he simply replied, “I don’t have the snap yet but I do have the punch and will punch it to take you up the break.” He looked with disbelief and continued to ride in the chase. The group began to slow down and that was all Leo needed to hit them at the right time. Leo punched it at 41mph and only Dewald from Snow Valley presented by Seal On, Barry Lee from THSJ, and Zach Fiocca from Brain and Spine were able to grab his wheel. At the base of the first climb Dewald took a pull and Barry Lee was satisfied with sitting on. The plan to rattle the chase group just enough but hurt them at the same time worked, and we were able to get Edgar and Henry to the break where Kasin was. With 3k to go Edgar made a suicide attempt for the win but it back-fired since Henry was still on the break. Henry was able to hit them just right on the sprint to come up with a 4th place and Edgar with 8th, Kaisin ?, Mike Brown and Leo Frayre finished in the same chase group.
Not bad for the first “training” race. We look ready for the first TX Cup race. Only two guys where not able to show up: Chris Powers and Sam Childs.

CX Race

2006-01-16T08:22:00.000-08:00

Here I stand before you thinking "who needs to train for cx racing?, don't you just get on and race like any other race? This should be a load of FUN!!

...and we are off!, my plan was to stay with my buddy Chris as long as possible.
The group was small but loaded with talent. Will Black decided to show up and give us a lesson on "how to" race cx.

Here I'm drilling just to try to pace my man Chris after a crash early (1st lap) of the race.

I was feeling great, and having loads of fun for the first 5min, then I realized how bad this hurt.
I was in so much pain I even looked at my watch just to see how much longer we had in the race, it read 27min, SUCK, 30min to go. This was no longer fun at all. I was not doing it to place but according to Brice, I was doing the race for "a hard effort" training day, HARD was to say the least. I don't know how these guys do it, they are like, to quote Chris, "deers on wheelz" I placed 6th and Chris placed 5th, one place out of the money. I thought I did great by just finishing the race! Next time I will have to train for it.

Recovery Ride

2006-01-09T16:48:00.000-08:00

Well, today I went for a recovery ride and let me just say I felt great, well that is ofcourse mostly because I was riding on an average of 14mph. Ha! After yesterday's "hard" training I did, I needed to go easy. I went to the RBM south grand prix and that it was. Crozzman showed up and ofcourse the ride would not be complete without the "trash-talkin-TINman". Unfortunately for the TINman (Randall Tinney) he blew up like popcorn on a hot skillet. He decided not to meet us back at the lake and ended up riding home to crawl under his sheets as Crozzman would say. I ended up getting just over 4.30hrs in. I forgot to mention that I'm finally done with my paramedic schooling. I took the National Registry on Dec 9 and just found out that I "passed" baby. Will have to celebrate later, off to sleep like a cat.

Station 11

2006-01-07T16:52:00.000-08:00

This is the famous Station 11

I'm actually riding on the truck today. Leftside ofcourse, short ladder and pike pole man.

This is when we got a box in Downtown "D" Dallas

Ofcourse we could not make it without having a hardy breakfast!

I ofcourse was also pumping Iron. They do say you have to be able to pump your own weight on the bench press, so ofcourse I started getting after it.

Testing

2005-12-08T10:37:00.000-08:00

Partly Cloudy 24°F
Feels Like
10°F TX Weather baby
Yes thats right! It feels like 10, well I personally think it feels more like 0 but hey, I don't like the cold weather.

I'm finishing up my testing for National Registry (paramedic/firefighter)today and I hope I passed. I put the time in but who knows at this point. It gets better though, we don't get to find out about our results until 14 days, thats right, 14 days from today. So in the mean time I will just be lifting weights (like I did yesterday) and getting on the trainer. I need to log in some trainer hrs. I think I would rather run at this point rather than ride my bike on a STATIONARY trainer. Why is it even called a trainer? I think it is mentally training you but who knows. I will be updating w/ photos shortly. WEEEEE. Oh yeah, by the way, I passed!!

CX

2005-12-06T20:00:00.003-08:00

Another training day in the D-FW area. This time we (Chris and I) had a 2.1/2 ride scheduled. Well, ofcourse at this point we have had enough of the lake scenery so we try and head off into the neighborhoods but before that, we bump into my bro (Les Terrill) and decide to start cx through norbuck park. Lots of fun!!, having to get off our bike and walk across an abundance of broken limbs (tree limbs-not human limbs) 3hrs later we head back home and skip lunch or dinner, gotta get rid of some excess weight! Oh yeah I gotta update you on my boy Austin, he still yet to start lifting weights. Getting dropped just like me on the South Ride Grand Prix.

Training in Dec

2005-12-05T05:20:00.000-08:00

Who knew it would be a high of 89* on this 3rd day of Dec. I'm sitting at home after getting back from a 4+hr ride at White Rock Lake. After the first 4 laps it started wearing on your brain, going round and round. I'm lucky Chris rode for 3.1/2 hrs w/ me. We ended up bumping into my boy Edgar and ofcourse ended up riding more than what I had scheduled, wait! I had no schedule, oh well. It was great weather! I love TX!, sometimes. Tomorrow we are suppose to have a high of 50*. Now if I could only find someone for a massage.