Day 3 without James and Maria. It is so quiet around here. Abby pads silently around the house.
BB would want you all to know crit practice is tonight and he won't be there. "Don't worry though, I am having fun." He would also want you to know he hasn't been riding his bike and is a bit worried about Ada this Saturday. "Dad registered me for the Jr. Men and the Men's Cat 4! So, I need some encourage right about now!!"
Drop in a comment and let's see if we can surprise him with a whole boatload of them.
~BB's Dad
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Sunday, July 27, 2008
Military Ave
Hi...this is Bikeboy's dad. I know he is busting right now not being able to blog so I thought I would update you all. He is at the Military Ave Presbyterian Church and he can't blog, use a cell phone or mp3 player. Bottom line...he's has been completely removed from any technology that would enable him to communicate. Heck, he doesn't even have carrier pigeon.
Anyway, Mom and I saw him and his sister off this morning. If anything momentous happens I'll fill in for him.
I am sure he would want you all to know that Zach Maino won the cat 3 crit at Pancake and that he still likes pizza.
~BB's Dad
Anyway, Mom and I saw him and his sister off this morning. If anything momentous happens I'll fill in for him.
I am sure he would want you all to know that Zach Maino won the cat 3 crit at Pancake and that he still likes pizza.
~BB's Dad
Saturday, July 26, 2008
See Ya'
Have fun at the Pancake stage race and Crit Practice while I'm at the graduation party and Detroit.
I will have much fun.
I will have much fun.
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Start of a new season
I am down, but won't be put down. I am hurt, but not dead. I am dropped, but I will finish. I am relegated, but I haven't given up. I have had a disastrous season thus far, but I am determined to turn it around.
If you're going to be racing me at Ada, watch out, because I will be coming at you like a spider monkey after a bananna!
If you're going to be racing me at Ada, watch out, because I will be coming at you like a spider monkey after a bananna!
Troy Pictures
This is the first lap, led by Drew's teammate.
Here's Drew taking the lead, followed by Me, Scott, and Hannah Mossman.
Here's the final sprint.
Here's me finishing, rather unenthusiastic.
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Feelin' sore, Ridin' sorely
I didn't do so well at Crit Practice. I did really well in the first race, but then got hammered in all the other races, except the miss n' out in which I was pretty competitive. I survived until the pack was whittled down to about 8 riders! Thanks mom for taking me, and thanks Abby for coming along.
I have four possible reasons for why I was often dropped today.
1. Danny Klein (AKA DK) was there. He's really fast, and guess what, he attacked on the first lap.
2. I've been running for the past two days. I'm starting to train for the upcoming soccer season. Jim Hughes told me that the WCA soccer practices are absolutely brutal so I will come prepared.
3. I'm still nursing my wounds from Saturday's crash. They started burning near the end of Crit
Practice.
4. I need to suffer better.
I have four possible reasons for why I was often dropped today.
1. Danny Klein (AKA DK) was there. He's really fast, and guess what, he attacked on the first lap.
2. I've been running for the past two days. I'm starting to train for the upcoming soccer season. Jim Hughes told me that the WCA soccer practices are absolutely brutal so I will come prepared.
3. I'm still nursing my wounds from Saturday's crash. They started burning near the end of Crit
Practice.
4. I need to suffer better.
Sunday, July 20, 2008
Going to Detroit
Some of you might want to know that I will be going to Detroit from Sunday, July 27 to Thursday, July 31.
My youth group is going to help out a poor Detroit church. There'll be lots of little kids to shepherd and lots of bonding time with everybody in my youth group. Everybody got put into smaller teams of about eight people. My team's pretty good. They probably won't drive me crazy in the four days I'll be cooking meals with them. Yeah that's right, cooking meals. I doubt I'll be much help with that :-).
So that's the reason why I won't be at Crit Practice or the group ride next week, but I will be racing at Ada on August 2. I'll be missing the Pancake Stage Race because of a graduation party. I'm getting the feeling that graduation parties are the bane of my existence. Graduation parties and crashing.
My youth group is going to help out a poor Detroit church. There'll be lots of little kids to shepherd and lots of bonding time with everybody in my youth group. Everybody got put into smaller teams of about eight people. My team's pretty good. They probably won't drive me crazy in the four days I'll be cooking meals with them. Yeah that's right, cooking meals. I doubt I'll be much help with that :-).
So that's the reason why I won't be at Crit Practice or the group ride next week, but I will be racing at Ada on August 2. I'll be missing the Pancake Stage Race because of a graduation party. I'm getting the feeling that graduation parties are the bane of my existence. Graduation parties and crashing.
Saturday, July 19, 2008
Troy Classic on the Square
Coming into the race, I had one goal: finish in the same group as Drew. I was so nervous about racing Drew that I never anticipated Scott Mcclary showing up. Scott Mcclary raced Drew at the Tour of the Red River Gourge and is beginning to grow a beard. Drew is about six feet tall, Scott is around 5' 7", and I'm 5'3", so I was quite intimidated.
We would be racing four laps on a one mile course. Yeah, I know, it was a short race.
The 13-14s started at noon, with Drew's teammate pulling. I glued myself to Drew's wheel from the get-go. Scott was right on my wheel. I was watching for him to attack. Drew's teammate was pulling at an average of 20-21 MPH, which was moving, but not super fast for a four mile race. When he pulled off, Drew took up the pace. Drew pulled for about half a lap with Scott and I sucking his wheel.
By then, the race had been thinned down to five riders. I needed to thin the group down some more, so I attacked. Scott and Drew were both slow to chase because they were both marking one another. I succeeded in dropping everyone but Drew and Scott. I was content with that, so I eased back into the group.
With one to go, I was in the best position, sitting in third wheel. Drew, the strongest sprinter, was leading us out.
Now let me describe the course. The course has nine turns, one of them being on a roundabout that leads onto the finishing straight. Since the temperature reached 90 today, there was some melted tar that I didn't see.
On the last time through that pizza-killing roundabout I took a bad line and got caught in the tar. My left side smacked down. I had crashed, 200 meters away from the finishing line.
I immediately leapt back onto my bike, not wanting to get passed by the fourth placed rider, who happened to be a girl.
I kept my third place, but was upset. Who knows, maybe I could have contested the sprint for first and won. Who knows?
Drew won. Erik Madis won the 10-12 boys category, Abby won the 10-12 girls category, Hannah Mossman won the 13-14 girls category, and our very own Chris Brinkman won the 15-18 category.
I at least got to be on the podium. I probably couldn't have beaten Drew in a sprint.
My dad, Giff, Craig, and Steve Christy did well in the 3-4 race. Giff got seventh and Dad got fourth! One of Rob Sroka's teammates took the win.
Chris and Tony decided to race category 1-2-3 and they both did AWESOME!!!
Tony finished with the main pack and Chris broke away for 13th(?)! John Zaccone crashed yet finished with the pack. Rob Iser hung out at the back of the pack all race long, but still wasn't dropped.
Since the race was 50 miles long, we had to make sure that the SLC riders were drinking enough water. Thus, I was constantly delivering water bottles to my dad in the feed zone. I probably made eight to ten trips back and forth.
Jeremy Grimm had an awesome race, taking third.
It was great to watch.
So I'm now disappointed by the fact that in most of my races this year I have normally crashed, been wheelsucked, or been cruelly relegated to last place.
I need some major encouragement(hint, hint).
We would be racing four laps on a one mile course. Yeah, I know, it was a short race.
The 13-14s started at noon, with Drew's teammate pulling. I glued myself to Drew's wheel from the get-go. Scott was right on my wheel. I was watching for him to attack. Drew's teammate was pulling at an average of 20-21 MPH, which was moving, but not super fast for a four mile race. When he pulled off, Drew took up the pace. Drew pulled for about half a lap with Scott and I sucking his wheel.
By then, the race had been thinned down to five riders. I needed to thin the group down some more, so I attacked. Scott and Drew were both slow to chase because they were both marking one another. I succeeded in dropping everyone but Drew and Scott. I was content with that, so I eased back into the group.
With one to go, I was in the best position, sitting in third wheel. Drew, the strongest sprinter, was leading us out.
Now let me describe the course. The course has nine turns, one of them being on a roundabout that leads onto the finishing straight. Since the temperature reached 90 today, there was some melted tar that I didn't see.
On the last time through that pizza-killing roundabout I took a bad line and got caught in the tar. My left side smacked down. I had crashed, 200 meters away from the finishing line.
I immediately leapt back onto my bike, not wanting to get passed by the fourth placed rider, who happened to be a girl.
I kept my third place, but was upset. Who knows, maybe I could have contested the sprint for first and won. Who knows?
Drew won. Erik Madis won the 10-12 boys category, Abby won the 10-12 girls category, Hannah Mossman won the 13-14 girls category, and our very own Chris Brinkman won the 15-18 category.
I at least got to be on the podium. I probably couldn't have beaten Drew in a sprint.
My dad, Giff, Craig, and Steve Christy did well in the 3-4 race. Giff got seventh and Dad got fourth! One of Rob Sroka's teammates took the win.
Chris and Tony decided to race category 1-2-3 and they both did AWESOME!!!
Tony finished with the main pack and Chris broke away for 13th(?)! John Zaccone crashed yet finished with the pack. Rob Iser hung out at the back of the pack all race long, but still wasn't dropped.
Since the race was 50 miles long, we had to make sure that the SLC riders were drinking enough water. Thus, I was constantly delivering water bottles to my dad in the feed zone. I probably made eight to ten trips back and forth.
Jeremy Grimm had an awesome race, taking third.
It was great to watch.
So I'm now disappointed by the fact that in most of my races this year I have normally crashed, been wheelsucked, or been cruelly relegated to last place.
I need some major encouragement(hint, hint).
Friday, July 18, 2008
Thursday, July 17, 2008
SORRY!
I feel that I'm due for an update. I raced at Crit Practice on Tuesday. I forgot my cycling shoes so my dad went back home to get the shoes. Thanks Dad.
Once Dad was back, I was ready to race.
I did fairly well, hanging on almost for almost the whole duration of the first five lap race. I got caught out in the wind on the last lap and blew myself up as the field split. In the next race I got dropped. For the next race the Rich said "Send the juniors out" which meant have Alexey and I break away with some other people and see how long we can stay away. Zack and Rodger Bowser went with us, along with a new rider. The new rider was a bit inexperienced, not really knowing how to make a nice, smooth paceline. He always jumped to the front of the line and sent the pace way up. He eventually couldn't keep the pace and thus was dropped. From then on, our little breakaway group rode smoothly. The peleton caught us after about six laps, and we tried to catch on. I survived for about half a lap more, then soft pedaled because I was totally dead in a figurative sense. Rodger kept us going quick though, and gave Alexey and me a leadout. I was in second position with Alexey right on my wheel, so when I started my sprint, Alexey caught onto my slipstream for a few seconds and then went around me.
In the next race Alexey, Tony and I were chatting when the race began. The pack gained about 50 meters on us as we talked about bike racing. By lap 2, we were hammering to get back on. We succeeded in getting back on, but bridging up ruined my chances of hanging on. I held on for a little while, then dropped off.
After that, we did a miss n' out. In a miss n' out, every time the peleton finishes a lap, the last two riders across the line are out. The last man standing wins.
I rode near the front and survived for about four laps, when I realized that NO ONE HAD DROPPED OUT OF THE RACE! They obviously didn't know how to do a miss n' out. Well, since I was running out of gas, I decided to attack. My attack worked and I held off the charging pack to win the lap. Then I couldn't keep up with everyone in the next sprint for the lap. I was actually pretty content with that.
I rode several cool-down laps with Tony and Alexey and then went home.
On Wednesday, I went to the High School branch of my youth group. Since I'm young for an oncoming freshman, I was the youngest person there, but I don't mind. The upperclassmen are awesome, quite like the big brothers I never had (sniff, sniff).
I feel like I'm no longer an eighth grader. I have become a freshman :-).
Once Dad was back, I was ready to race.
I did fairly well, hanging on almost for almost the whole duration of the first five lap race. I got caught out in the wind on the last lap and blew myself up as the field split. In the next race I got dropped. For the next race the Rich said "Send the juniors out" which meant have Alexey and I break away with some other people and see how long we can stay away. Zack and Rodger Bowser went with us, along with a new rider. The new rider was a bit inexperienced, not really knowing how to make a nice, smooth paceline. He always jumped to the front of the line and sent the pace way up. He eventually couldn't keep the pace and thus was dropped. From then on, our little breakaway group rode smoothly. The peleton caught us after about six laps, and we tried to catch on. I survived for about half a lap more, then soft pedaled because I was totally dead in a figurative sense. Rodger kept us going quick though, and gave Alexey and me a leadout. I was in second position with Alexey right on my wheel, so when I started my sprint, Alexey caught onto my slipstream for a few seconds and then went around me.
In the next race Alexey, Tony and I were chatting when the race began. The pack gained about 50 meters on us as we talked about bike racing. By lap 2, we were hammering to get back on. We succeeded in getting back on, but bridging up ruined my chances of hanging on. I held on for a little while, then dropped off.
After that, we did a miss n' out. In a miss n' out, every time the peleton finishes a lap, the last two riders across the line are out. The last man standing wins.
I rode near the front and survived for about four laps, when I realized that NO ONE HAD DROPPED OUT OF THE RACE! They obviously didn't know how to do a miss n' out. Well, since I was running out of gas, I decided to attack. My attack worked and I held off the charging pack to win the lap. Then I couldn't keep up with everyone in the next sprint for the lap. I was actually pretty content with that.
I rode several cool-down laps with Tony and Alexey and then went home.
On Wednesday, I went to the High School branch of my youth group. Since I'm young for an oncoming freshman, I was the youngest person there, but I don't mind. The upperclassmen are awesome, quite like the big brothers I never had (sniff, sniff).
I feel like I'm no longer an eighth grader. I have become a freshman :-).
Monday, July 14, 2008
Well I'm Back
I guess I'll make an attempt to post, but I don't really have a lot of things to post about. I am posting this to satisfy my readers, so I hope you are happy. I hope you're so happy that you feel inspired (or pressured) to post a comment on my blog.
I had a good time at Aunt Mary's, but I love my home, so I'm happy to be back. I love to get up early every morning and watch the Tour. Of course my fantasy team didn't do so well today (Kirchen and Valverde got dropped, although Piepoli did win the stage) so I sky-rocketed down to 9,000th place. Yeah, I stink.
I can't wait to resume my training again with Crit Practice tomorrow night. On Friday, I'll be going down to Troy Ohio to race the Troy Classic on the Square on Saturday. I'm pretty stoked to be racing Drew Bercaw, who I predict will win Nationals. It's going to be a cool race, regardless of the fact that the Junior 13/14 race is only four laps on a kilometer(?) long course and my dad doesn't want me to race the 3/4 race.
So I will have a good weekend.
I hope that post inspired you (or pressured you) so much that you feel like commenting {:-).
I had a good time at Aunt Mary's, but I love my home, so I'm happy to be back. I love to get up early every morning and watch the Tour. Of course my fantasy team didn't do so well today (Kirchen and Valverde got dropped, although Piepoli did win the stage) so I sky-rocketed down to 9,000th place. Yeah, I stink.
I can't wait to resume my training again with Crit Practice tomorrow night. On Friday, I'll be going down to Troy Ohio to race the Troy Classic on the Square on Saturday. I'm pretty stoked to be racing Drew Bercaw, who I predict will win Nationals. It's going to be a cool race, regardless of the fact that the Junior 13/14 race is only four laps on a kilometer(?) long course and my dad doesn't want me to race the 3/4 race.
So I will have a good weekend.
I hope that post inspired you (or pressured you) so much that you feel like commenting {:-).
Saturday, July 12, 2008
Up a little early
I found myself awake at 7:20, so I figured I might as well eat some breakfast and get in some computer time before the Tour starts. It's been pretty quiet here. I'm a little homesick, but I definitely don't mind playing Rock Band and going Putt-Putting. I found out last night that I'm absolutely terrible at Putt-Putting. My little sister even beat me! I just had a bad night, and Abby had about three Holes-in-one. It was embarrassing. At least I can drop her like a bad habit on a bicycle.
So the Tour's on in half an hour.
So the Tour's on in half an hour.
Friday, July 11, 2008
At Aunt Mary's House
My parent's are at the other MS 150. I can't do it because I'm too young. Even if I could, I would be enduring seemingly meaningless suffering for 200 miles. I don't want to figuratively get burned out like I got burned out after the first MS 150.
So I'm at Aunt Mary's house, which is pretty quiet right now.
So I'm at Aunt Mary's house, which is pretty quiet right now.
HUGE IMPROVEMENT!!!
I have improved from 3,570th place in the Kenda Fantasy Cycling Challenge to 3,139th place! That's an improvement of 400 places! I moving up slowly but surely!
Thursday, July 10, 2008
The Unnofficial Michigan State Climbers Championships!!!
http://midwestcyclinggroup.com/2008RaceFlyers/2008_Trophee_des_Grimpeurs.pdf
I'm going to race the Juniors 10-18 race. AAVC should line up a strong junior team and control the race. If we get Caleb, Alexey, and Jordan racing, AAVC might get the win!
I'm going to race the Juniors 10-18 race. AAVC should line up a strong junior team and control the race. If we get Caleb, Alexey, and Jordan racing, AAVC might get the win!
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
I got tagged?
As of late, a bunch of Ohio racers have been "tagging" one another via internet. When you get tagged, you have to tell six things about yourself that most people probably don't know about you.
I got tagged.
So here are six things that you probably don't know about me:
1. I should probably be a grade younger, but I started first grade one year early. My friends tend to give me a hard time about this fact, so you're lucky that I'm even telling it to you.
2. I strongly loath onions.
3. When I was younger, I was obsessed with Lemurs.
4. I've been homeschooled for all of my life, but I'll be going to Washtenaw Christian Academy in the fall.
5. I'm going into Algebra II in the fall. I'm going to be in my sister's class.
6. I like pizza
So I know have to tag six other people.
hmmm... I will tag:
Zack Maino
Doug Gatto
Maria Anderson
Abby Paternoster
Darrell Anderson (he's not going to be happy)
Jeff Knight
If you want to be tagged, just tell me.
I got tagged.
So here are six things that you probably don't know about me:
1. I should probably be a grade younger, but I started first grade one year early. My friends tend to give me a hard time about this fact, so you're lucky that I'm even telling it to you.
2. I strongly loath onions.
3. When I was younger, I was obsessed with Lemurs.
4. I've been homeschooled for all of my life, but I'll be going to Washtenaw Christian Academy in the fall.
5. I'm going into Algebra II in the fall. I'm going to be in my sister's class.
6. I like pizza
So I know have to tag six other people.
hmmm... I will tag:
Zack Maino
Doug Gatto
Maria Anderson
Abby Paternoster
Darrell Anderson (he's not going to be happy)
Jeff Knight
If you want to be tagged, just tell me.
I like to ride my bicycle
I've been really enjoying riding my bike in the past two days. On Monday, Maria's schoolmates were over, so I decided to ride on the trainer. I rode for one hour and forty minutes, riding in the upper end of zone two and also doing spin-ups.
Since Crit Practice was canceled last night, I substituted some crit-like intervals in my neighborhood. After those intervals were done, I did hill repeats with Abby.
In both of these rides, I've had fun. Now when I have fun riding the trainer, something is very very wrong, but wrong in a very very good way.
Here's Doug's interview of me at the State TT Championships:
Since Crit Practice was canceled last night, I substituted some crit-like intervals in my neighborhood. After those intervals were done, I did hill repeats with Abby.
In both of these rides, I've had fun. Now when I have fun riding the trainer, something is very very wrong, but wrong in a very very good way.
Here's Doug's interview of me at the State TT Championships:
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Le Tour de France
I've been spending the week hiding out in my basement all morning long, watching the Tour. It's been pretty exciting thus far, especially considered that teams like Slipstream and High Road are doing really well. I'm also doing the Kenda Fantasy Cycling Challenge, which is the same thing as Fantasy Football, except with the Tour. As of late, I'm in 100th place!
Sunday, July 6, 2008
Good Weekend
Friday- We went to Gma and Gpa Scicluna's house. Most of our cousins were there. We played volleyball in the pool and ultimate frisbee. We also ate a lot.
Saturday Night- We went to the Vermeulens' house to watch the firworks on their lake. Maria, Abby, Alexey and I all got in the boat and watched the fireworks in away from the dock, away from Alexey's many little cousins which were all pretty funny. He has 15 of them over, and he's the oldest. Maria didn't like the boat, so we dropped her off on the dock. Alexey had suggested dropping her off on the buoy...
The fireworks were pretty neat, and Alexey and I made a lot of noise, probably annoying all the other boaters... next time we will bring a foghorn.
We made smores (not on the boat) after the fireworks were over. Abby mistakenly sat on a marshmallow. She highly suspects Alexey...
Caleb the rock hound came out and nearly dragged Alexey and my dad into the lake.
We got home at 12:30 A.M.
See ya'
Saturday Night- We went to the Vermeulens' house to watch the firworks on their lake. Maria, Abby, Alexey and I all got in the boat and watched the fireworks in away from the dock, away from Alexey's many little cousins which were all pretty funny. He has 15 of them over, and he's the oldest. Maria didn't like the boat, so we dropped her off on the dock. Alexey had suggested dropping her off on the buoy...
The fireworks were pretty neat, and Alexey and I made a lot of noise, probably annoying all the other boaters... next time we will bring a foghorn.
We made smores (not on the boat) after the fireworks were over. Abby mistakenly sat on a marshmallow. She highly suspects Alexey...
Caleb the rock hound came out and nearly dragged Alexey and my dad into the lake.
We got home at 12:30 A.M.
See ya'
Saturday, July 5, 2008
Return to Dexter High School
Today, I remembered the physical agony that I experienced one month ago at Dexter High School. I crashed, ripping off flesh, embedding gravel in my body, and trashing my kit.
One month later, I returned today. Fortunately, I didn't crash! Alexey, Abby, and I were the only juniors there, but we had fun nonetheless, and fun is much better than pain.
One month later, I returned today. Fortunately, I didn't crash! Alexey, Abby, and I were the only juniors there, but we had fun nonetheless, and fun is much better than pain.
Friday, July 4, 2008
Thursday, July 3, 2008
A Crazy Idea
I want to write a book. I don't just want to write one, I want to get it published by Velo Press. I know it's an absolutely ridiculous idea, but why not try? Jamie Smith got a book published; why can't I? Honestly, Jamie Smith is a good writer, but I studied under Mrs. Kazanjian! My grammar is close to untouchable. My writing style? Very touchable, but still decent.
Of course Jamie Smith won my award for the "Most Connected" and I'm "Not the Most Connected", but maybe Jamie could recommend me to Velo Press...if my book is good. I definitely have to get more connections.
I already have the title for my book:
Bike Boy:
My Life as a 13 year old Cyclist
It's a good start to an insane idea.
Of course Jamie Smith won my award for the "Most Connected" and I'm "Not the Most Connected", but maybe Jamie could recommend me to Velo Press...if my book is good. I definitely have to get more connections.
I already have the title for my book:
Bike Boy:
My Life as a 13 year old Cyclist
It's a good start to an insane idea.
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
Update
Several notable things have been going on in my life:
Facebook, Cycling, and venting my anger.
Facebook: I now have 85 friends, including pro racer Kirk O'Bee!
Cycling: I did Crit Practice last night, and did decently. I've come to the conclusion that I tend to attack meaninglessly and needlessly. I put in six breakaway attempts. I need to work on trying to not get dropped. Alexey and I did have one pretty good race. It was a ten lapper. Alexey and I broke away for one lap and then sat up to wait for another group bridging up to us. Our break lasted for about five laps, and when we were caught by the pack, Alexey and I both managed to hang on for two more laps. Zack gave us a leadout in one of the races. After Crit Practice officially ended, Alexey and I worked on leadouts. I have to say we communicated well and did the leadouts smoothly. I feel that my sprint is really coming along. It's not great, but I could beat Joe Toma in a sprint now. Crit Practice really develops sprinting.
Venting My Anger: I'm almost over Sunday's ordeal. The Vermeulens were just as ticked off as I was too. By the end of the week, I'll be done venting.
So that's what's been going on.
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