Race Against Time, 30K TT

Post by Doug Perry:  The Perrys get two podium finishes for Team Aggress!

Not a major event on the calendar, but for my group, Masters M60+, it brought out the two strongest riders in our category: Reg Dowdall and Phil Holman. These two guys were on the podium last year for all the State Championships. So, going in I was pretty much looking at third place being the best I could possibly get. However, signing up, I saw Glenn Harris and, knowing that I had never beat him in a TT, things weren’t looking too good.

The headwinds were pretty strong going out … and, on the way back, why does it always seem that what should be a tailwind, turns into a crosswind …? Of course, on this TT, there is climbing of about 100 feet per mile going out as well … made for an interesting day!

I set a personal goal, based on the few earlier TT’s that I’ve done, of finishing in under 50 minutes. I achieved my goal … by one second – 49:59! I also got third place and that was pretty cool, too! Finishing just 3 minutes behind Phil Holman made me feel good too … I know that’s a whole lot in a TT, but considering how new I am to the world of TT’s I’m good with that time.

Liz did great … capturing a second place in the Masters F55+. Before the race, we discussed her goals and based on the fact that she had no aero equipment at all (no aero helmet, skin suit, booties, aero bars, or aero bike) and that this was her second TT ever, we felt anything under one hour five minutes would be great. She finished in 59:58! A great accomplishment!

 Doug

March 22, 2011 · Filed Under Race Report

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U of A Crit

Eljet wins!  Once again, an Aggressor in a sheep’s kit racks up another win.

 

Leo the Lionhearted:  I went out for the 40+, no warmup due to poor planning and yardwork, and rode hard on my dura ace tubies until two RPM guys in front of me popped on the downhill into the wind as Paul made the winning move.  I couldn’t overcome the instant 50 foot gap and got whistled off.

I then went to the cat 3 and kept the DA’s rolling.  I went better, but got locked in at the back, unwilling to expend the erg’s to get to the front.  Just sat in and watched the crashes at the end as two guys rolled tubies off their rims.  Elliot won!!!!!

Mike: Good job guys! I got in the top ten (9th I think) in the 30+ race, and it was tough. Stacked field.

Rick: When it became clear part way thru lap 1 that nobody in our group particularly wanted to pull, I made the strategic decision that I would keep my HR no more than a few beats below redline for the 30 min period, and if that meant pulling, then I would pull.  Fellow Aggressor Doug Perry did provide a couple of laps of much appreciated rest part way thru the race.  No one else in our group pulled at all.  Toward the end only a pair of Summit-Velo riders were with us and one of them faded with about 3-4 laps to go.  On the final lap, Doug came around me a couple of turns before the finish with the remaining Summit-Velo rider on his wheel and the Summit-Velo rider then came around Doug on the last turn and (barely) outsprinted him to the finish (damn!).  I really had no sprint to speak of and crossed the finish perhaps 30 ft behind them.   So, in the end Aggress had 2 riders on the podium and I managed to collect a $25 prime at some point in the middle of the race.
 
During the post race discussion, Doug and I agreed that we should have tried a 2-man breakaway with 4-5 laps to go, especially given that only the Summit-Velo pair of riders was hanging with us at that point.  This was my first race actually working at all with a Team mate and I kind of think I learned a thing or two and we should do better the next time we have an opportunity.  Results

March 3, 2011 · Filed Under Race Report

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MBAA race #3

From the newest Aggressor, Aaron Prudler:     I am currently in the hunt for the MBAA Singlespeed Open state championship, and this weekend was race #3 in the series. It was also my first race representing Aggress! The race took place at White Tank Mountain Park, west of Phoenix. The Cat 1 course consisted of 4 perimeter loops of the competitive track, each of which included two technical sections and one good climb, especially at race pace! I showed up Saturday morning to see that the pros had come out to play in my cat. in the form of Dejay Birtch and Tom Ament…….two Very strong riders…..OUCH!….I was in for a tough one. After some much needed encouragement from my amigo, Beto Villegas, I was ready for the start line. Tom Ament (Vassago Bikes) jumped out in front off the start with Mike Haas (Exhale Bikes) on his wheel, followed by Dejay Birtch (Ergon/Niner), and myself rounding out the top four. Dejay Birtch and myself were content to start off at a strong pace without waisting ourselves, however Tom Ament attacked from the start, leaving us no choice but to roll with it. After a few miles, Mike (Exhale) got hung up in some rocks, and Dejay and I made our move into second and third position. We dropped Mike almost immediately, and increased the gap over the next few miles. Dejay took the lead before the first Tech section, and I was able to maintain contact with he and Tom through the first big climb, however lost contact by the end of the second real technical section. Mike was not far behind me, and I knew I had my work cut out for me, if I was going to hang onto third and podium with the pros……….I wanted this one BAD! By the the time we came around for the big climb the second time, I looked back to see that Mike had put some time into me…….It was time to go for the mental attack! I hammered the climb hard, and made it appear that I wasnt suffering, but of course I was! After talking with Mike after the race, it worked perfectly. I never saw Mike behind me for the rest of the race, however I left nothing to chance and left it all on the course. Tough,considering I lost a bottle on the course, and finished the last lap and a half on about four sips of Accelerade! I was unable to make contact with Tom or Dejay, and finished in third place, which I was incredibly excited about for many reasons, two of which are: 1.I podiumed with two seasoned, sponsored pros, and 2. This race put me into the lead in the state championship series!

March 3, 2011 · Filed Under Mountain Biking

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Valley of the Sun

This weekend Rick Ellwanger, Leo Masursky, and I did the Valley of the Sun race … it was tough and had lots of excellent riders. There were 18 in the MM60+ category and only 8 were from Arizona, the other ten were from New Mexico, Canada, San Diego, Utah, South Carolina, and Connecticut. I ended up 9th in the GC. Here’s a brief report for each stage:
 
2011 VOS TT : Headwind going out of approx. 7-9mph. Finished in 37:48, 23mph. This was 1:32 faster than when I did this in 2009. Overall pleased with my finish in the middle of our group (11/18). Thanks to Bryan Schlegal for the loan of his TT  bike!
 
2011 VOS RR: Came in 10th. In 2009 finished in 2:07:09, this year I finished in 1:55:46. Cut off 11:23!! Got gapped from the lead group after the first climb of the long hill, worked with five others to catch back on with the leaders just at the lead up to the long climb … got gapped again and couldn’t catch back on … after riding alone I caught a 50+ guy that got dropped from the lead group, we worked together until the lead up to the climb and I was able to break away at that point. Lost about 3-4 minutes to the leaders, but I’m overall pleased with my improvement and hope with more work next year I can finish with the lead group and contend for the win!!

2011 VOS Crit: Came in 8th. Crazy fast at the start and got dropped by the leaders on 2nd lap. Worked in a small group that included Richard Thompkins, AZ Masters,  and several 50’s .. was able to nip Richard at the wire (he had won quite a few crits in our age group last year).

Leo: For the RR (this was my inaugural VOS), I felt good and was climbing well in the group.  I got an excellent feed from Will after the third climb and was really happy.  I then hit a massive pothole just before the turn into the wind and chased with Richard Hurst for the rest of the day.  I was tired at the end, but Jimmie’s program really worked.

For the crit, I was feeling fine, and flatted with five laps to go; dnf.

Having raced the previous weekend (McD, and Bike Haus cr’s), and this weekend, I’m feeling great about the season, but I’ve got to up my top end for TT’s.

Rick:  The TT came off pretty much according to plan in terms of effort.  My objective was to maintain a HR of 158 out and back and I in fact did 158 out and 159 back.  My AT is 161 so I kept just shy of threshold pursuant to the training plan.  Unfortunately, my overall management of the TT sucked and I forgot my TT helmet and didn’t think to pre-treat my aerobars with carbon paste or chalk to keep them from slipping.  There was significant vibration on the road surface and by turnaround my right bar was loose and I had to literally hold it in the aero position.  In addition, I failed to pay proper attention to the start and allowed my start time to sail by while the Starters lollygagged, which cost me another 30 sec.  Bottom line, I finished 15/18.
 
The RR was a whole lot more fun.  I got in the breakaway the first time up the big hill and managed to stay close enough to the front for the next lap to get 1 KOM point the 2nd time up the hill.  I got gapped a little bit with half a dozen other guys just after the summit but we worked pretty well together and re-acquired the lead pack a few miles later.  For the final time up the hill to the finish line I turned the corner with Roy Quaid from Canada and commenced my final grind up the hill; hitting HR 160 at the 3km mark, and 164 at the line; definitely anaerobic.  While I was struggling just to survive, Roy rode away from me like I was standing still and just kept going like a machine, in due course passing everyone in our group to win the RR with a time of 1:51:04.  I finished 7/14 with a time of 1:52:30; a good result and a pretty well managed training ride.
 
The Crit was enlightening.  Since there were going to be about 60 guys in the combined 50/60 field and I wanted a position ON the start line I hung out on a side street shortcutting the course while the previous race finished.  My plan was to insert myself at the front of the riders as they came around the backside of the course during the warmup lap. After a while when no riders appeared I began to wonder what was going on and I went back to the other end of the block where I could see the start line and the last riders in my group were just disappearing around the first corner.  Oops – there was no warmup lap!  I had to cover half a block to get to the start line and I was at 28+mph when I crossed the start line.  I remained at 28+ and at the end of the first lap I had slightly LOST ground.  Yikes!  I still felt good so I hammered a 2nd lap at  27-28 and at the end of that lap I was even farther behind.  At that point I collapsed to 23 mph where I remained until 4 laps to go, when I got lapped by the leaders and pulled from the race.  I’m afraid you all will just have to take my word for this part since I noticed I’m not even on the finish list.  My ONLY redeeming action for this race was that I managed to pass two 50+ dropees before I got pulled.

March 3, 2011 · Filed Under Race Report

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Leo the Lion – Tuesday ride commentary

TT’s are the gordian knot of this sport.  If I go out hard, I’m basically walking at the end.  I literally have no idea.  At this point I’m embarrassed to put on my aero helmet, skinsuit, and disk.  I should just ride a trike.  HELP!!

As for Tuesday, awesome ride as always.  I collapsed on Gates, but the sprint was fun.  It was myself, Monster Mike and Jake the Snake, who had apparently applied his anti-wheelsucking cologne with Don’s paint sprayer.  I could not breath.  It was ridiculous as he yelled at me to grab his wheel on the downhill after I dragged his sorry ass to the top.  I could barely hear him over my own wretching.  Anyway, we worked really hard and dropped the skinny guy in the strange kit who climbs like a cabroni.  I attacked those two chumps at the flats, but they went by me at the end and Monster destroyed Snake in a super smack down.

March 3, 2011 · Filed Under Fun Rides

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24 Hours in the Old Pueblo

i Mike dusts off his cloak of invisibility to represent once again!

aggronauts,
Last weekend saw the Sonoran desert taken over once again for the
race/party/pain fest that is 24 hours in the old pueblo. After going
solo  last year, I was rejoined by my buddy John Carr. He flew in from
Nashville and we got the band (the kitty song) back together and raced
duo. What was a beautiful week weather wise took a turn on Saturday
with temperatures dropping and winds kicking up. 24 hr racing being
all about endurance, we went conservative setting up the tent low
ridder style and doubling up on rope and stakes. With gusts up to 40
mph and tents getting ripped up around us we settled in an equally
modest pace out on the course. In the early going we hung around 7th
or 8th with both John and I questioning whether we had the early
season fitness we had hoped for. As the day grew later clouds began to
role in. While I was resting between laps Beto and Paula stopped by.
Beto, seeming to channel a wise old ancestor, began a full on rain
dance. Sure enough the pitter patter of rain could be heard on the
tent. He left saying the worse the conditions the better, this is your
chance. The next couple laps we got soaked and hit our toughest patch,
but we hung on a little better than the teams between us and the
podium. By midnight the weather had broke, we leapfrogged into 5th,
and began to pour it on. By daybreak fourth, and by mid morning it was
about pride and seeing just how much time we could put into 5th. when
it was all said and done we had almost run down 3rd coming up just 11
minutes short after 24hrs. It was a thrill again to stand on the
podium again at an event as big as 24hop, and personally satisfying to
hang on when where down and off the pace. A huge thanks to everyone
who supported with gear and well wishes.
imike

March 3, 2011 · Filed Under Mountain Biking, Race Report

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Flapjack TT

 
The 2011 road racing season opened this past weekend.
 
Here are the results for the Flapjack TT:
 
Rick; M65-69, 1st place, 32:19
Gus; Cat 5, 16th place: 32:33
Doug; M60-64; 3rd place: 33:58
Kelly; Cat 4W; 4th place: 38:13
Liz; W55-59; 2nd place; 39:10

February 1, 2011 · Filed Under Race Report

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El Tour 2010

Vic came in 16th overall.

Elijet 47th – still needs to top my 23rd place from a few years ago – KG

Mike Mishevch 92nd            

Pete Fry  344th

Doug Perry finished 358th,

 Kelly O’Conner 996th

Liz Perry 1136th       

         

Report by Liz Perry:

As I was approaching the Sabino Canyon area, I started to cramp in my quads.  While walking through the wash, I thought I was probably over-heated and that was why I was cramping.  I stripped off my arm and knee warmers and shoved them in my already full back pockets.  I looked at my watch as I was climbing Snyder; it was 9:45a.m. 

I continued to cramp, but kept going.  On the Frontage Road, my quads totally seized and I couldn’t ride anymore, I pulled over and almost fell off my bike because my legs were going crazy with bizarre spasms.  While standing there, a Mexican guy pulled over, asked me what was wrong and I told him cramping.  He puts three little white pills in my hand and says “put these under your tongue, they’ll get you to the finish line.  Don’t worry, it’s just quinine”.  So I put the pills under my tongue and in a few minutes, the spasms that were rocking my quads stopped.  I made it to the finish line.

Lessons learned from my first 109:

  • find a group and stay with them, if I get dropped,  wait for the next group and never ride alone
  • start doing more intensive intervals and less mileage
  • get some strong guys from my team to ride as domestiques.

From Doug Perry:

There were about 3,500 in the 109 event. It was a VERY WINDY El Tour !!!

Pete and I were going strong for through Sabino .. he was with the leaders and I was 8 minutes off the leaders pace … then the hills, pain, cramps, wind … all set in … neither of us got platinum … Pete was approx 5:12 and I was approx 5:15.

Fom Eljet (Wolf in sheep’s clothing) Some serious pros racers are there usually, this year I saw James Carney (x-Olympian) and a rider for team BMC, Garmin-Transitions (now Garmin-Cervelo) and Bahati (I was racing to help my x, now current teammate again, soon to be x again (since he got hired for a pro team for 2011) win. The goal was to contain the race when needed before the 2nd wash (by speeding up the pace to thin it out to keep us safer and not let others crowd around, and ideally deliver Vic to the crucial 2nd wash. I helped Vic getting him in the wash #1, pretty cool to see. 

It was sweet racing for Vic, the competition was stiff…me 46th (45th last year..god!) in 4:36:41, little more than 4 minutes behind winner.

–

El Tour Resultshttp://www.pbaa.com/!ETT/ETT10Results/ETT10-FS.html

December 8, 2010 · Filed Under Race Report

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Kentucky Camp Epic Marathon Race

Kentucky Camp Epic Marathon Race report by Beto Villegas

Good turnout today, 30 showed up for this one.  Scott Morris and I opened a gap from the rest of the field on the first major climb.  I decided not to push the pace and save my legs for the long windy road ahead.  But, the pace soon picked up after I attacked on the first downhill section and was able to open a small gap.  I put the pressure on the chasers until I made an unplanned stop at the Kentucky Camp monument to top off my water bottles.  I pulled out of the town site still in the lead somehow.   I was already starting to feel dehydrated and my stomach was not feeling right.  I pressed until I felt a bonk coming on and hiked my bike up some steep switchbacks, which was also a good time to refuel anyways.  I refueled, hydrated and suffered like a dog for the top spot, just 5 minutes in front of second place.

December 8, 2010 · Filed Under Race Report

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Cochise Classic

Cochise Classic – Beto Villegas

Roll out temps were nippy, probably 49F.  Good warm up to the Mules.   Start of the climb I jumped to the front and set the tempo, Troy Burns followed my lead and 10 of us got over the top together, with a big chase group of approximately 20 on our heels.  Two riders got dropped on Davis, one rider who kept attacking us on the flats?  Troy put the hammer down, see ya bold one!  We were eight strong in the final stretch, with Burns, Chris ? (Tri-Sports) and mua doing the bulk of the work.  Rock Racing rider and teammate attacked at the 15th Street traffic light.  RR sits up for a block, I swing around, chase, and sling-shot off his teammate opening up a significant gap.  Green light on 10th Street, legs feeling great, in the bag!!!!!  As I’m getting ready to turn the corner, the event vehicle cuts me off (WTF!!!) I slammed my brakes to avoid colliding with the vehicle, losing all my momentum.  By the that point, the chase is on and was caught half-way to the finish line on the final stretch.  As I rolled through the finish line I had to constantly remind myself that it was a charity ride and protesting was not an option.  Better luck next time!  Finishing time was 3:53, one minute from the course record.  Great day on the bike!

Note: Pete Fry won the 45 mile event!  Congrats Pete!

Results: http://www.perimeterbicycling.com/!CCCC/cochiseresults-10.html#ninetytwo

December 7, 2010 · Filed Under Race Report

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  • Mission

    Aggress is a Tucson-based statewide / regional cycling team formed in January, 2004.
    As a developmental team for both road and mountain bike racing, Aggress continues to actively – yet carefully – recruit according to a philosophy that emphasizes teamwork in both training and racing tactics.
    Our focus is to race as a team, utilizing team tactics to get our man the win. We ride in support of our designated racer, with each member in turn supported in the key event(s) of his choosing.
    We are aggressive when we race, but we behave in a courteous and sportsmanlike manner at all times. We also have team training rides that we utilize throughout the season.

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