| Aggress is the 2012 AZ State TTT champions! Leo, Rich H, Gus and yours truly finished 2nd in the 140+ category, but P&S (winners) are not eligible. They should have been riding in the Open Category anyway. We had a great ride. |
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I (Mr. Horn) had been very ill the previous couple days and was feeling sicker then a dog when the race started. The first lap almost did me in, as the pack would go slow and then someone would attack on the hills. Each time I was falling off the back and about to throw in the towel, however the attacks were not sustained and I was able to catch back on just before I ran out of steam.
Shortly into the second lap it became apparent the field did not seem that organized and I started to realize they would keep attacking on the hills. If I just sat in the group I would stand the risk of being dropped on the attacks and have to limp in for a solo last place. The plan was to attack before the hills and build up enough of a gap that when the hills hit, I would be able to get over them by the time the pack passes. The first two breakaways fizzled rather quick, however they were just what I needed to get over the hills with the group.
A few miles before the end of the second lap, the Master 40+ chase group pass us and then immediately slowed down. Some confusion ensued and I used the opportunity to get away and make it over the next hill ahead of the Cat-3 attacks. Though it was not planned as an “all or nothing break-away”, the third breakaway just before the end of the second lap, I was able to open a sizable gap on the main field. I was only hoping to get to the top of the next hill, but when I looked back the field was out of sight. I decided I would go for the next hill … and the next hill … and the next … Where did they go? By the end of the race, it was apparent the third attack turned into an unexpected success and I held them off for 35 miles. Though they were closing in on me the last few miles of the race, the field waited too long to act, especially with my team mates in the mix to control the field.
1st place baby!!! Could not have done it with out my team mates in the pack to slow things down every time they felt lazy! Thank you Mike and Leo!!!
-Rich
Well Done Aggressors:
I actually got to see the setup for this Aggress victory while return riding from the Finish line to Mormon Lake. Rich Horn off the front about 50m, Mike M. at the front of the pack discouraging any meaningful pursuit, and Leo a few rows back ready to respond if the pack got “uppity.”
Rick E.
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Race report by: Leo Masursky
TT: We got there in plenty of time (Kurt drove, Leo and Jim rode), and happened to park right next to Jeremy.
Good warmup, normal conditions. Kurt rode very well to 23rd, Jim blew it out Merks to 45th, and I did fine to 46th (my current age; ouch). I came close but did not hit my goal of avs 25mph.
RR, we decided to cover attacks and try to get into any real break, allowing Kurt to sit for the finish. As it played out there was a crash on the first lap, so we stopped for an hour, and they cut the race by two climbs.
This was a major factor as by the fifth climb the field would have been cut by 2/3’s, as we would have been there for sure to cause rr problems for the posers in the crowd..
I was feeling fine, and after the break/change, it took me awhile to get back into competing, but by the last corner on the last lap, I realized it was still a competition, and went to the front. Jim had been working all day, with Kurt riding smart and conservative (the pack was very tight and jittery). Jim took a pull, then I think Kurt did, and then I took one. I then followed I think Brian Marcucci who used to ride HLAP most of the way up the first steep part. He faded and I thought I would smooth it into the surge but he took me too far back, and I had to start really pumping to get on at the very back. We then hit the 3k spread to the whole road marker, and guys were yelling at each other and skittering around.
I did not like this and stayed to the middle and they promptly crashed on a dead straightaway. I was singed by it but not caught. A gap opened and I was off. I worked hard with few guys to limit the damage and rolled through -16 sec.
Jim got more caught by the disruption, and I think Jeremy had his work cut out for him on the hill.
For the crit I was feeling my normal day three surge. My wheels seemed good, and I got my spares in the pit with Arrellana’s (ph) help; thanks very much to our race support, awesome positive attitudes all weekend. Whether or not I ever win a beer, I owe you guys a cold one (and a bag of chips)!
I wanted to attack immediately on the crit, but so did 30 other people, so the start came down to who got through the pre-race barriers first and to the start line. For the start I was third row, middle with an immediate hard right from the start (and I had literally sprinted to the start line to get that dubious position).
We blew out of the start, and I realized I would not be attacking at the 3rd turn as planned. I rode with the main pack and it seemed like Kurt was always right there. I didn’t see Jim or Jeremy until I flatted about half way through, having worked myself into the top 1/3rd. I felt fluid in the group with plenty of confidence and energy. Oh well.
I ran over and got my wheel, only to be thrust directly into the dead back of the pack.
After some leg bruising work I was back at mid pack for the finish, with Kurt putting on a nice surge at the end.
Great crit, moved up some spots on the rr and crit to 36th or so.
Great race overall with a solid showing by Aggress. For my part, I am going to continue working on finding that top end zone on tt’s, believing in myself for the rr’s and crits.
TBC next!
Rode the Bicycle Haus crit cat 3 race today at Firebird Raceway. The course was flat and the wind was blowing. Our race stayed together the entire time, however the field whittled down by half during the race. With 1 lap to go, Leo made a move on the right side as the big attacks were happening. I got on his wheel, and got into the final turns in about 10th place. Ended up getting eighth.
-Mike M.
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Good times today. My goal was survive and not get dropped. 40+ and Cat 3 – check. No glory for Aggress, but solid riding from Leo (flatted with under two to go in the 40+), Jim who got caught out behind a crash in 40+ and Mike. We all stuck together in the Cat 3, but no one really had a go in the end. Good training miles.
Welcome to Richard Horn who raced in a neutral kit with Aggress listed as the team. He got pulled, but he’ll be along shortly.
Thanks to Doug, Liz and a fast healing Kelly for moral support. You guys were awesome.
I’ll roll Lemmon at some point tomorrow, but it will be slow going for me. I rode for an hour before and over an hour after. Comeback 6.3 is underway.
Kurt
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The race this last weekend was in Globe, and I have to say that we were hearing nothing good about the race course. I Really had no desire to go, but being in the lead for the state championship, combined with the fact that I also represent AGGRESS meant that I needed to go anyhow. After getting up there on Friday, I could tell the course was nothing for than some dry-loose forest service roads (That werent in the forest). On top of that everybody said that there was a half mile of the course that ran in the bottom of a creek bed that had 8 – 10 inches of dry loose sand in it…..OUCH! Well, Saturday was hot and dry, and by the time we started at 11 oclock, it was 90 degrees and blowing wind. I went into this race, fully expecting to win it, but I knew I had my work cut out for me with Mike Haas (Exhale bikes). Nonetheless, I have beaten him twice, and felt I would beat him again, as long as there was enough climbing……….there wasn’t. Mike and I jumped off the front, and were content to ride together for a while. I told Mike we would have a gap after the first two short, steep climbs, and we did. The problem was that after that we were exposed on the top of a ridge for about 4 miles straight into a headwind. I could tell that I was running the wrong gear (20t), and Mike was running the right one (18t). We rode together, and I tried to hide it, but once we hit a long section of semi-downhill on the back side of the course, he could tell that I was spun out, and away he went! I tried like heck to close the gap before we started our second lap, but it was so hot, I was burning up! I could tell part way into the second lap that I just wasn’t going to catch him because of the long flat, so I was content with the gap we had created, and decided to ride for second. Even this wasnt easy, because I just couldn’t ever get recovered, and I ran out of water right after rolling through the venue the second time! Bummer! I knew I was drinking a lot….Welp that meant the last nine miles were DRY. Can you say leg cramps! Nevertheless, I was able to finish in second place, and maintain my lead in the series, but I have to say, I was very dissapointed in my performance. Of course, I had the 4 hour drive home to analyze every aspect of my riding, and what I can do better…….Then I realized that this is my first race season, and I might want to back myself off the intensity scale just a wee bit, and remember that riding and racing bikes is FUN!!!!! – Aaron
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I was torn on racing the Whiskey this year because my heart was set on racing the Gila. With a little peer pressure and some incentive, I was all in for the one of the best MTBiking events of the year. I had a couple of setbacks prior to the race, overcoming a sinus infection and then a pulled muscle in my back playing mashball with P and G, less than a week out before go time. With some Neproxin and visit to the Chiro, I was almost 100%.
A quick look at the field of racers lining up for the Whiskey, I knew a tall order was on hand, with Evan Plews and Dax Massey (National champs)doing the event this year. Unbenowith to me, my former 24hour SS Championship teammate, Cameron Chambers (former Gary Fisher Pro) showed up for a piece of the pie, I was supper stoked. A great compadre and someone I have the utmost respect for in the world of cycling, once a 22-year-old who kicked Tinkers ass when Tinker was at his prime during the 24 Solo at the OP.
There was also alot of talk of Dejay riding super strong and my good friend Mike Melley, who was schooling every SS in the state. Fuzzy, the course record holder was also racing. Therefore, it set the stage for my hardest race of my life yet. Running a smaller gear ratio than all of the above, I knew I would hit the pain cave early, hoping I could recover by the time with hit the first major climb. Those who have raced Whiskey (Rick, IB) know that the first three miles of the race will most likely determine the outcome of the race! With that in mind I had to do whatever it took to hang on.
The field size started somewhere in the vicinity of 350 riders and my biggest challenge was staying in front of the faster gear riders who lack in climbing ability or love their granny gear.
Once the race started I was able to stick with the lead group that consisted of around 15 riders and included 7 SS, the pace was insane and I had already been above my heart rate threshhold when we hit the dirt. I lost contact with all the SS and only had to gearys in front of me, but I could not recover with no power to pass. Finally, halfway up the first climb I made my move and passed the two riders and closed in on Mike Hilleman (NV), five time Whiskey champ, I was stoked, because honestly he was the one I was gunning for, there is story behind that. We rode together when we hit the first technical descent of the day, he let me pass and I said ”goodby to him,” in my mind anyways! On the final descent after the first climb, I reconnected with Melley, I believe he had stopped because he dropped his chain. We road out of the canyon together and caught up to Scott Morris right before the 25 mile junction turnoff(50ers turn down Skull Valley Rd). I took lead down the road and opened up a gap, expecting both of them to catch me right away, but wasn’t the case. Finally a couple of miles before the turnaround, Morris came flying by me and I jumped on his wheel. He was cool and let me draft the rest of the way down. A few minutes before we reached the turnaround at the bottom of Skull Valley, Kenny Wiens (No Tubes from CO) was setting the pace back up the climb with Dejay, Chambers, Massey, and Plew right behind. Holly crap! I’m in 5th with Melley charging behind.
The climb back up was long and brutal with some good head crosswind, which seemed blow harder on the steepest sections of the climb. Halfway up the climb, 12 -mile climb I believe. I had Chambers in my sight. He was laboring and I knew he was done! I rode up to him, chatted for a sec and was on my way. I had ran out of water a few minutes later and contemplated on stopping at the next feed station, a homey from SV was supposed to give me a feed at that point, but I wasn’t sure if he would be there on time.
Once I reached the aid station, my friend was nowhere in sight, only faith was on my side because I took the risk of bypassing the aid. When I road around the next bend on the road, he popped out of nowhere and gave me the best greeting that I have had in long time, perhaps because I was becoming dehydrated and he gave the best medicine of my life. So far everything was going as planned, except that Melley had made a big surge and caught me. Yet, not really disappointed because I had surpassed my expectations of even being anywhere close to him in the race and the fact that we had made contact with Dejay Birtch. Dejay looked back and saw us charging and literally put the hammer down. Mike and I worked together (it’s actually possible in a MTBike race) and closed the gap. But, when we got off Skull Valley Road onto the last final downhill section of single track, he was gone. We thought we were chasing a ghost, that man can descend, but we kept the pressure on. Miracullously we reconnected wtih Dejay at ”Cramp Hill,” last and final steep-loose-rock climb (sound familiar). Dejay was pushing his bike and was running scared, while Melley stomping on his pedals and cleaning that section like a man on a mission. I dabbed and hiked two or three steps before I jumped on my bike like a kid running away from something.
Dejay and Mike had gapped me at that point and the pressure was on. Yet, I kept Melley in sight. Once we got back on the blacktop for the final stretch of the race, I had Melley and Dejay in sight but I knew at that point that I had the smallest gear and hope of catching them was slim. Thinking of the shootout, I surged and surged until I caught Melley. We worked together and pacelined until we had Dejay in sight, but it was too late, both of us realizing we could not close the gap with the finish line nearby. Melley and I rode to the finish line together with neither one of us caring who took the next podium spot. We actually had the same finish time. Evan Plews, Dax Massey, Dejay Birch, Melley and Mua respectively.
I set a new PR for this course improving my time by 13 minutes and the old course record by 5 minutes.
Meanwhile, Adam and Aaron were also killing out on the course. Aaron finished 3rd in the 25 mile race which consists of the hardest section of the course and Adam, well, he litteraly destroyed his last years time by more than and hour I believe (he can report on that) and finished sub-four hours which would have put him on the podium all the previous years. My teammates are very strong cyclist and great human beings, I feel honored to ride with them on our team and call them my friends. All thought they might know it, they inspire me ride hard and represent AGGRESS!! – Beto 50 proof
I had no idea who my competition was in the 25 proof, but HOLY SMOKES, there was a lot of it! Beto made it clear that I needed to go out hard on the paved start so that I would beat the massive group of riders that would clog the singletrack. This meant I needed to be at the front for the start. The problem was that the start line began lining up 30 minutes before the race……so much for a good warm-up!!! I got right on the second row and shivered and twitched for 30 minutes, but when I looked back and saw the mass of close to 700 riders, I was glad I did! I have to say, there was some high dollar singlespeeds near the start and I had no idea who was fast and who wasn’t. Well, we finally started, and the front group started FAST, but I knew I needed to spin like a mad man to stay with the lead group of geared dudes. Thats exactly what I did, and managed to stay with the lead group of about ten until we hit the singletrack. I knew there was one singlespeeder ahead of me, Riley Post (Team OVB), who was with the very front, but I knew I hit the singletrack second. Hot on my heels were several other singlespeeders, including Dan Hight (Cross-fit), and Tobias Walker, both of whom were very strong local riders. They were chasing hard, but I managed to keep a small gap ahead of them for all of the first round of climbing all the way to the first long descent. I was moving really well down the long descent and thought I was ceating an even bigger gap, but much to my dismay, right at the bottom, Dan Hight caught up to me! The dude is one crazy fast descender! We rode for a while up the next round of steep climbing to the second aid station. Dan started to get a gap on me the further we went up. I was focusing on not blowing up, and I truly thought I would reel him in on the climbing after the second aid station. Unfortunately, this is where not having pre-ridden the course proved to be a mistake. the climbing got far less technical after the second aid station, and though I was climbing well, SO WAS DAN! Couldn’t close the gap, so I was now riding in the third place singlespeed spot and the 5th spot overall out of all the 25 proof riders (Geared or SS). The last part of the course was clogged with many of the 50 proof stragglers and slower riders, and I have to say they were a little possessive of their spots on the singletrack. I don’t blame them I suppose after coming so far. This made my chance at running down second place even less possible. It was a total blast bombing the last sections of singletrack to the pavement though. Once I got back to the pavement, it was time to spin like crazy again for the last few miles to the finish. I had three geared fellas pace-line it by me, which meant I was now sitting 8th overall, but I was more worried about the SS cat. anyhow. After a mile or so, I could tell someone was on my wheel, and when I turned around, IT WAS TOBIAS WALKER on his singlespeed! NOOOOOOOOOOO! I knew I had to make a move. Right as we were approaching the brink of a long downhil descent, I spun out as fast as I could, and then jumped way up over the front of my bars, and coasted away, PHEW! I wasnt leaving anything to chance, though, and I had my SS spun out until I crossed the finish line and claimed the Third spot on the podium!!! All in all in was an amazing weekend! I have to say though, I am like Beto, in that it is the friends and hanging out and re-hashing the races and riding experiences, that is the REAL RIDE! – Aaron – 25 proof
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Did the 30K Three Bears TT yesterday. Shaved 2:52 minutes off my time from March 5. Many thanks to Doug for installing his aerobars and Zipp wheels to my bike!! Placed second under Candace Porter, who finished 22 seconds ahead of me. -Liz
3 Bears TT yielded two more podium finishes for the Aggress resume. Liz posted a 2nd place in her group and I posted a win in my group (by 0.01 sec, gotta love it!). – Rick
Congrats!
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I did TTM today and improved my time by 25 minutes from last year. I can live with that. – Kelly
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Aggressors:
Did the State Crit. First 10 minutes was nice; remaining 30 minutes was a decent into discomfort as the rain gradually turned to sleet. Combined peloton had perhaps 15 guys. The course was quite nice; new pavement, wide streets, 53 ft of elev gain per lap. First lap was routine, rode in position 4. Lap 2 half the peloton sprinted up the hill and all of a sudden I was in position 8 or 9. I felt like it was a bit much, too soon, and might burn me if I tried to hang, so I let them go. I started working with a 60+ Summit Velo rider and kept my HR just under threshold on the laps I pulled. We alternated pulls each lap. With 3 laps to go we passed a couple of burnouts from the lap 2 sprint and kept rolling. With 2 laps to go we were perhaps 300m back from the main group of half a dozen. With 1 lap to go we were maybe 50m back and it was my pull so I drew close enough to be in the draught but tried to avoid being noticed. Approaching the final turn I actually dropped back a little and then accelerated to the outside for the final turn, passed all of them in the turn, and then sprinted the remaining 100m to the line. As I looked up after crossing the line I could see a 2 man break that had already crossed the line perhaps 5-7 seconds ahead of me and unfortunately one of them was in my group (William Hydinger), so I ended up 2nd. Nevertheless, it was a good training event for me and I was able to keep my HR just below threshold pretty much the whole time I was pulling.
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I (Mr. Horn) had been very ill the previous couple days and was feeling sicker then a dog when the race started. The first lap almost did me in, as the pack would go slow and then someone would attack on the hills. Each time I was falling off the back and about to throw in the towel, however the attacks were not sustained and I was able to catch back on just before I ran out of steam.
Shortly into the second lap it became apparent the field did not seem that organized and I started to realize they would keep attacking on the hills. If I just sat in the group I would stand the risk of being dropped on the attacks and have to limp in for a solo last place. The plan was to attack before the hills and build up enough of a gap that when the hills hit, I would be able to get over them by the time the pack passes. The first two breakaways fizzled rather quick, however they were just what I needed to get over the hills with the group.
A few miles before the end of the second lap, the Master 40+ chase group pass us and then immediately slowed down. Some confusion ensued and I used the opportunity to get away and make it over the next hill ahead of the Cat-3 attacks. Though it was not planned as an “all or nothing break-away”, the third breakaway just before the end of the second lap, I was able to open a sizable gap on the main field. I was only hoping to get to the top of the next hill, but when I looked back the field was out of sight. I decided I would go for the next hill … and the next hill … and the next … Where did they go? By the end of the race, it was apparent the third attack turned into an unexpected success and I held them off for 35 miles. Though they were closing in on me the last few miles of the race, the field waited too long to act, especially with my team mates in the mix to control the field.
1st place baby!!! Could not have done it with out my team mates in the pack to slow things down every time they felt lazy! Thank you Mike and Leo!!!
-Rich
