First off, I don't think I will be able to post as much as I was hoping to be able to do. This is the first time I have been on the internet since arriving. Belgium is simply an amazing place to be at right now. The weather has been nice since arriving (highs in the low 70's). I am staying in a farm house near Westrobeke in the provincie of West-Vlaanderen (West Flanders). The guys I am traveling with are all great. I am mainly on my bike when I head out and have not spent much time in a car since being in Belgium.
For the racing, I have done two races so far. In the field for both of the races is the outgoing Belgian amateur national champion. The first race was a kermese in Oostrozebeke. I don't think I have ever hit the brakes so hard or heard so many squealing brakes heading into a turn as I did in Oostrozebeke. Also, I don't think I have ever sprinted so hard out of a corner as I did in the first race. Every time I came out of a corner if there was a small gap when I hit the gas to get up to speed the gap would remain constant even when I was going as hard as I could. My teammates over here mentioned the same experience as I did. Needless to say the first race was an experience and I was happy to have it done. I didn't do so well, managed to last about 35k (approx 21 miles) of a 117k (approx 70 miles) race. Considering my lack of training for the year as a result of school and some jet lag in the legs I was pretty happy. The second race was a American style criterium in Staden about 70k (42 miles) in length. I managed to hang on and actually be able to attack during the race. It was a great experience. It is a amazing to the locals come out and truly support a race and you can see how much they enjoy the sport.
For the tourist activities, I haven't done too much so far with getting over here and settling in for the month. On Monday, I road over to a cemetery from a battlefield, Tyne Cot, from WW1. Also, I road over to the Kemmelburg, and it is hard the descent off of it is just nutty. On Tuesday I spent the day site seeing in Brugge. While in Brugge, I saw a few churches, a brewery, and the Blood of Christ (brought back by a Flemish soldier after the Second Crusades). The churches are simply amazing.
This weekend, I might be racing three times and probably be visiting Brussels.
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Monday, June 16, 2008
Weekend
On Thursday, I went back up to St. Marys for the next few days. That evening I rode over to Minster to ride with the group over that meets at the church. It was good to ride with them, again. The only problem for me was the fact I had a hard race the night before at Ault Park and the sleep deprivation I had gone through the last month and a half.
Since I didn't walk for graduation, my mom decided to throw a graduation party. It was nice to see everyone. My mom surprised me by inviting the guys I used to ride with in Minster. It was a nice surprise and it was nice to see everyone before I fly over to Belgium.
Saturday, instead of walking for graduation, I went to my cousin's wedding. Congrats to her and her new husband.
Sunday, I raced my third mountain bike race. I don't have the technical skills needed to ride well in the sport class. I had a good start but faded after a few crashes. Eventually I got feed up with the race and felt like giving my bike a toss. So, I figured it was good idea to quite.
Today, I am helping with the RAAM time station in Hamilton, OH. It has been an interesting experience. Its been great seeing the riders. More interesting is the people who randomly checking out the race from curiosity.
Since I didn't walk for graduation, my mom decided to throw a graduation party. It was nice to see everyone. My mom surprised me by inviting the guys I used to ride with in Minster. It was a nice surprise and it was nice to see everyone before I fly over to Belgium.
Saturday, instead of walking for graduation, I went to my cousin's wedding. Congrats to her and her new husband.
Sunday, I raced my third mountain bike race. I don't have the technical skills needed to ride well in the sport class. I had a good start but faded after a few crashes. Eventually I got feed up with the race and felt like giving my bike a toss. So, I figured it was good idea to quite.
Today, I am helping with the RAAM time station in Hamilton, OH. It has been an interesting experience. Its been great seeing the riders. More interesting is the people who randomly checking out the race from curiosity.
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
I am done
At about midnight last night, I finished taking my last exam (it was online). As long as I passed all my classes, I am done with my undergraduate degree. It feels good to have the weight off of my shoulders for now and I can relax for a little bit. I mean relax for a few weeks.
Since my last post, I have gotten very busy with classes. I have been operating on sleep deprivation since the last post. As a result my racing suffered. I had some bad shows in the races I was doing. I even got to start a UCI 1.2 event.
Tonight, I will be racing at Ault Park. Tomorrow, I head up to St. Marys for a few days and will ride with the Minister group. Sunday, I am contemplating between road racing and a mountain bike race.
Ciao
Since my last post, I have gotten very busy with classes. I have been operating on sleep deprivation since the last post. As a result my racing suffered. I had some bad shows in the races I was doing. I even got to start a UCI 1.2 event.
Tonight, I will be racing at Ault Park. Tomorrow, I head up to St. Marys for a few days and will ride with the Minister group. Sunday, I am contemplating between road racing and a mountain bike race.
Ciao
Saturday, May 3, 2008
No Calvin's Challenge for 2008
For me, the three previous years I have spent twelve consecutive hours on a bicycle eight days before Mother's Day. This year is a different story with my absence at this year's Calvin's Challenge, which is under different management this year. I am glad to see someone stepped into fill the shoes of promoters after John and Ann McKinely and wish them the best of luck of continuing a great event. I do miss being at the event but it is best. With my time in school winding done, I am busy and don't have the time to dedicate to the event. Plus, I am trying to concentrate on my regular racing for a little bit.
Calvin's is the one of the two cycling event that I can say I have grown up riding the event (GOBA is the other but I haven't done it since I was 15). I did Calvin's for the first time at age 14 where I did 107 miles and set the 10-14 age group record that has been beaten. I consider that my hardest year although I did the my smallest mileage amount that year. The reason being is I was inexperienced and didn't train like I do now days. It might be my proudest Calvin's taking in those factors. The next time I did it I was 16 and came in a bit more experienced and was able to complete 199 miles and set the 15-19 age group record. The following year, at 17, I manage to spend over 200 miles with the big boys, including Mark Heckman and Danny Chew, finished with 242 miles, to smash my record from the previous year, and meet Bennet. I spent the next two years in absence to concentrate on my regular racing. I returned in 2005, age 20, with the UC Cycling Club in hopes of trying to help of setting a new overall record, but it wouldn't be a reality due to 25 mph winds all day. I road 242 miles and finished tied for the overall win with Bob and Adam on the tandem and Danny 'Million Mile Man' Chew. This might be my most memorable Calvin's because of helping Adam get through his longest day on the bike in such rough conditions. 2006 will probably be know as the year of the super bonk. That year, I greatly misjudge my energy efforts and had a big bonk hit me at about 220 miles into the event. I manage to survive to the finish with a small amount of recovery to ride 256 miles. With luck, I managed to remain tied for the overall win that year and I tied Mark Heckman's 20-24 age group record. In 2007, John and Ann decided to do their last Calvin's. Initially I told John and Ann I wasn't going to be in attendance, but when I found out what the UC boys were planning, I wasn't going to let them do it with out me. The UC boys set a goal of trying to get a new overall record set. We met nearly perfect conditions for the opening six hours and road 140 miles in the opening six. Then a storm struck with strong winds that would last throughout the rest of the day. I missed out on the overall win because my stomach felt like it was full the rest of day, and I had a hard time eating or drinking in the later part of the event. I managed to break Mark Heckman's 20-24 age group record only a week after he won Athens Twilight (arguably the biggest non-national championship criterium in the nation). Over the years, I have been fortunate to have my dad there for support every year.
I do intend to return to the event someday. When I do return, it will more than likely mean I have begun to take ultramarathoning more seriously. I may do it just because I miss Calvin's and make it my only ultramarthoning event for that year. If I do it while taking ultramarathoning more seriously, it will mean I am working on trying to qualify for Race Across America (RAAM).
Ciao
Calvin's is the one of the two cycling event that I can say I have grown up riding the event (GOBA is the other but I haven't done it since I was 15). I did Calvin's for the first time at age 14 where I did 107 miles and set the 10-14 age group record that has been beaten. I consider that my hardest year although I did the my smallest mileage amount that year. The reason being is I was inexperienced and didn't train like I do now days. It might be my proudest Calvin's taking in those factors. The next time I did it I was 16 and came in a bit more experienced and was able to complete 199 miles and set the 15-19 age group record. The following year, at 17, I manage to spend over 200 miles with the big boys, including Mark Heckman and Danny Chew, finished with 242 miles, to smash my record from the previous year, and meet Bennet. I spent the next two years in absence to concentrate on my regular racing. I returned in 2005, age 20, with the UC Cycling Club in hopes of trying to help of setting a new overall record, but it wouldn't be a reality due to 25 mph winds all day. I road 242 miles and finished tied for the overall win with Bob and Adam on the tandem and Danny 'Million Mile Man' Chew. This might be my most memorable Calvin's because of helping Adam get through his longest day on the bike in such rough conditions. 2006 will probably be know as the year of the super bonk. That year, I greatly misjudge my energy efforts and had a big bonk hit me at about 220 miles into the event. I manage to survive to the finish with a small amount of recovery to ride 256 miles. With luck, I managed to remain tied for the overall win that year and I tied Mark Heckman's 20-24 age group record. In 2007, John and Ann decided to do their last Calvin's. Initially I told John and Ann I wasn't going to be in attendance, but when I found out what the UC boys were planning, I wasn't going to let them do it with out me. The UC boys set a goal of trying to get a new overall record set. We met nearly perfect conditions for the opening six hours and road 140 miles in the opening six. Then a storm struck with strong winds that would last throughout the rest of the day. I missed out on the overall win because my stomach felt like it was full the rest of day, and I had a hard time eating or drinking in the later part of the event. I managed to break Mark Heckman's 20-24 age group record only a week after he won Athens Twilight (arguably the biggest non-national championship criterium in the nation). Over the years, I have been fortunate to have my dad there for support every year.
I do intend to return to the event someday. When I do return, it will more than likely mean I have begun to take ultramarathoning more seriously. I may do it just because I miss Calvin's and make it my only ultramarthoning event for that year. If I do it while taking ultramarathoning more seriously, it will mean I am working on trying to qualify for Race Across America (RAAM).
Ciao
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Spring racing
Last week Sunday, I went up to Gettysburg, OH for a race. Although, I unable to produce any result due to me racing like an idiot (what else is new). It was nice seeing some people I haven't seen in a while like Roger, JayWo, and John. It rained on us while we where there and it was nice to begin to fell my power return.
Today I went to Spring Valley, which is near Caeser's Creek State Park, for a race. The course was a nice change to what most of the course have been this year. The reason being we actually had a 800 meter climb. I was able to keep contact with the main group up the climb. Towards the end, the group was trying to catch a rider off the front. Of course, I lent a hand and rode myself to the point I was unable to contest the finish with the top of the hill at about 200 meters from the finish. I am starting to become very happy how my form is beginning to progress with my power starting to return. Hopefully things are progress really good for coming into some good form towards mid-June.
For school, things are starting to get busy with the middle of the quarter just starting. Unfortantly for me this means multiple homework assignments, mid-terms, and a senior project presentation. I am looking forward to three weeks from now when it will all be done.
Below is some pictures from today.
Today I went to Spring Valley, which is near Caeser's Creek State Park, for a race. The course was a nice change to what most of the course have been this year. The reason being we actually had a 800 meter climb. I was able to keep contact with the main group up the climb. Towards the end, the group was trying to catch a rider off the front. Of course, I lent a hand and rode myself to the point I was unable to contest the finish with the top of the hill at about 200 meters from the finish. I am starting to become very happy how my form is beginning to progress with my power starting to return. Hopefully things are progress really good for coming into some good form towards mid-June.
For school, things are starting to get busy with the middle of the quarter just starting. Unfortantly for me this means multiple homework assignments, mid-terms, and a senior project presentation. I am looking forward to three weeks from now when it will all be done.
Below is some pictures from today.
Friday, April 18, 2008
Earthquake?
So, apparently some people felt the earth shake here in Cincinnati earlier this morning. I slept completely through it and I am actually disappointed by it. I know I am weird. At times, I have thought it would be cool to go through an earthquake that doesn't do any damage to property just to experience it.
On the bike, I got forced to take an extra rest week when I developed a cold after the Vandervort's Corner race two Sunday's ago. With it raining last Sunday, I opted to skip racing and concentrate on getting over my cold to be able to concentrate on training this week. This week, I began my shorter intervals to make the final process of getting ready for the hard racing of the summer. Today, I was so happy to get out mountain biking for the first time in over a month. I went to England-Idlewild for around 3.5 hours of riding time. My back took a beating over the 3.5 hours, but on the upside I am noticing an improvement on my technical skills. This Sunday, I will be headed to Gettysburg, OH for a race.
For school, I have only 53 days till I take my last exam of my undergrad degree. No, I am not counting down. I am looking forward to finishing with times I don't look forward to finishing. The days I don't look forward to finishing are days like today. Its really nice out, I don't have many classes, and I get enjoy the nice weather (I bet I am making some of you jealous). Next week is the first round of mid-terms hopefully they go well, especially the Electronics II mid-term.
Lastly, I have missed being on campus in the spring over the last 3 years because of co-op.
Ciao
On the bike, I got forced to take an extra rest week when I developed a cold after the Vandervort's Corner race two Sunday's ago. With it raining last Sunday, I opted to skip racing and concentrate on getting over my cold to be able to concentrate on training this week. This week, I began my shorter intervals to make the final process of getting ready for the hard racing of the summer. Today, I was so happy to get out mountain biking for the first time in over a month. I went to England-Idlewild for around 3.5 hours of riding time. My back took a beating over the 3.5 hours, but on the upside I am noticing an improvement on my technical skills. This Sunday, I will be headed to Gettysburg, OH for a race.
For school, I have only 53 days till I take my last exam of my undergrad degree. No, I am not counting down. I am looking forward to finishing with times I don't look forward to finishing. The days I don't look forward to finishing are days like today. Its really nice out, I don't have many classes, and I get enjoy the nice weather (I bet I am making some of you jealous). Next week is the first round of mid-terms hopefully they go well, especially the Electronics II mid-term.
Lastly, I have missed being on campus in the spring over the last 3 years because of co-op.
Ciao
Monday, April 7, 2008
Yea, school
Not much to report, this time around.
With one of classes down for the quarter, I am beginning to see the workload starting to pile up. Although it isn't too bad as yet. I started to test my senior project last week and working out all of the bugs of it.
I went racing Sunday. With Texas Roadhouse missing only one guy from their squad, I tried to find myself in the move by watching everything early but my body could take it quite yet. Its too early in the year for me still. My power and strength are improving about as planned.
Ciao
With one of classes down for the quarter, I am beginning to see the workload starting to pile up. Although it isn't too bad as yet. I started to test my senior project last week and working out all of the bugs of it.
I went racing Sunday. With Texas Roadhouse missing only one guy from their squad, I tried to find myself in the move by watching everything early but my body could take it quite yet. Its too early in the year for me still. My power and strength are improving about as planned.
Ciao
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