Holy macaroni

Let me begin by clarifying... Ali and I don't "really" have a tree house, but often times out apartment seems like it is one.

Further more... we rode to the grocery store for the first time the other day, it was awesome! Carrying my share of the load in the messenger bag was a bit much, and I promptly looked into ordering some pannier bags the next day at work. Turns out that "grocery" style bags from EVERY manufacturer available from QBP is sold out. Seriously? Well that's pretty awesome, right?
The trip was a success, and the ride was surprisingly shorter than I would have imagined.
Though, I'm not sure Ali will want to come with me next time, as Boston Matt (from work) has added some festive... "sound effects" to my River Bike.

Racing has been on hold this past weekend, and won't resume until the 10th of August. It was suggested that I go and do the weekly, or almost weekly, time trial around here, but I was working.
And that is... that.

The Circle A...
Where to begin... I apologize for not having photos of it just yet... but I'm afraid it may break my camera.
No... seriously, holy bananas.
I'm not sure how to phrase it... I wish that BMC could be at my shop one day and see the reaction the bike generates from customers in the store. Everyone has in Providence has seen a Circle A and/or owns one of their own, and I think, maybe, takes their stunning for granted. If you remove the bike from it's home, where it's known and seen regularly and you show it to people who have never heard of the Circle A, it stops them in their tracks. The bike has generated more questions than I have time to answer.
Serrotta buffs, vintage bike buffs, all these bike nerds are left standing there, crouching down and grinning like kids in a chocolate store.
There have been guesses that the frame alone retails for $7000. $7000!!!! Holy shit! That is a lot of money.
During the Tour De France we had a few regular customers come in everyday to watch the tour on the big screen TV. Everyday for 3 weeks they would come through the door and see the same bikes, same faces, nothing changed. And then Circle A #150 came on the scene...
Hanging from the ceiling in what is affenctionately called VIP parking, was the bike. The entrance to the store is 60 feet away and people noticed it from across the store. They would skip the tour for a few minutes to investigate it.
Generally the situation is like this:
"Whose bike is this?"
"It's mine." I smile and wave or something...
"May I?" They asked and point to the bike, jesturing to take it down."
::Gingerly lifting the bike off it's hook::
::Look of confusion as if the bike is still being lifted by the hook::
"Wow, what is this made out of?"
"Steel."
"...holy shit... How much does it weigh?" Lifting the bike up and down
"16.4, with that clunky saddle."
"...holy shit..."
::crouching down to further examine the bike and the lugs and lug lining::
"...holy shit..."
"...holy shit..."
"...holy shit..."
"...holy shit..."
"...holy shit..."
"...holy shit..."

There has been a lot of off the cuff profanity in the store lately. Thank BMC.
Then they'll gingerly put it back up on it's hook.
Then a co-worker will come by and point some other neglected to be noticed details, BB cutout, Anchor cutout, tiny chain peg, seat mast... followed by.
"...holy shit..."
"...holy shit..."
"...holy shit..."
"...holy shit..."
"...holy shit..."

One of the big buyers in the store took the bike up stairs and measured it from every angle, grinning and scratching his head and comparing it to Serotta. (He REALLY like Serotta). Then he gingerly asked if he could ride it some time... I told him I would think about it, but that would probably be fine.
A guy came in the other day and took a picture of it. Came into a bike store and took a picture of a bike hanging from the ceiling. A bunch of people have said things along the lines of, "It's really sleeper, huh?" or "Wow, you'd really have to know bikes to know what you're looking at."
And therein lies the beauty of the bike.
It's not just a bike.
And it's not like the newest and greatest LOOK, or TIME or ORBEA, all sexy in their own right. But everyone can see that their nice bikes, they "look" like nice bikes. They're the Ferraris of the bike world.
But this Circle A... it's something different. It's a beautiful bike for bike lovers. The details the details the details. You can see it in the eyes of it's observers. There's a little glint... it makes people laugh and remember that beautiful thing that bikes are. Simple, elegant and man's last great invention.

I didn't want to write about the bike to boast, though I am proud to be it's owner and I could go on for days... but I'll spare you.
No, I wanted to draw attention to a beautiful thing.
A product of craftsmanship and dedication and effort and time and blood and sweat and maybe even frost bite. I think sometimes when we get too close to a certain thing and maybe we don't see just how amazing it really is. And it takes other people to point it out, maybe not even directly. And that's so refreshing... and you look at it and it's beautiful and inspiring and uplifting... and I"m not even sure I"m talking about my bike any more. But that's the point.
It can change your outlook on life.
In closing... Briand Chapman is extremely gifted and I hope hope hope that he can continue to do what he very apparently loves to do because it is amazing work.

Not to mention that the bike rides absolutely amazing. But that will be for another post...

The short list

Here is a short list of things that I enjoy:
Riding bikes
living in vermont
my treehouse
Well made lattes
good cookies
grilling
sunshine
making grand plans

But really... I really enjoy riding bikes. This morning was one of those rides where everything was "on." I think I hardly rode an hour... granted I did stop for the finest latte in all of Vermont... but it was great. The pedals felt like they were pushing themselves and the world just rolled on by.

I am excited for... well just life in general.

Circle A tomorrow!!!!

Mt. Hotty (as in... it was HOT!)

Holy moly baloney was it hot at Mt. Holly.
101 degrees, stiff wind, and the pace was hot hot hot. While I still can't find results anywhere online, let's guess and say there were 120 starters. Of those 120 starters... 50 or so finished.
I was in the finishing group. So, check that one off the list.
It's Monday now and I'm still feeling the effects of riding in that kind of heat. Holy hell.

It was the get blasted by the hair drier in the face kind of heat.
The, you're barbecueing outside and the flames jump up and lick your arms kind of heat.
The, it's already hot out and you've decided to bake some brownies and then you open the oven kind of heat.
The, you're making pasta and pouring the still boiling water into the sink and melt your face off kind of heat.

I mean really... the shit was hot!
On the up side, my legs felt good and for the first part of the race I was active at the front and was able to jump of the front a couple of times and cover some moves. Why was I covering moves... because Eneas was in the race and he was on form and he would go on to take 2nd behind a very fast punchy Colavita rider. So... let's just say mission accomplished. J Gabe Lloyd did in fact ride with the green machine on Saturday though he DID NOT get to play lead-out man for the day. Too bad. It was a fun event to go to.
The race went by the oldest continually used prison on U.S. soil interesting. The winner of the race was given a key to the prison. Like one of those big silly looking "key to the city" style keys. I wonder if he ever gets caught for doping if he can use it as a get out of jail free key. I'm not saying he's doping... just it would be funny. Like, "yeah, but I have this key!"
I digress...

You can see photos of the race on cyclingnews.com, here http://www.cyclingnews.com/photos.php?id=/photos/2008/jul08/mtholly08/gallery-mtholly08

In other news... the grill is still kicking ass, but tonight we had pasta, because I am smoked tired and Ali was feeling ill. Ploop.

Wednesday is Circle A day. Holy moly am I excited. The headset FINALLY arrived today and that completes the parts list for the bike... or so I hope. I'm pretty sure I have everything for it. At the very least i have all the important pieces. Ali and I are going to cruise down the Lil' Rhody tomorrow night post Ski Rack fun. Which means we'll be leaving here around 7:30. Be on the look out.

Also... while driving back from CT on Saturday the Jetta averaged 35.7 MPG. Holy shit bite your tongue, true freaking story. I almost peed when I did the math. Insane. But in that good sort of way.
I remember thinking of some funny things I wanted to write here in el' blogo when I was driving home... but all thoughts are elluding me at the moment. Oh well.

Upcoming schedule looks something like
This week: super trip with Ali!
Weekend... work
Next work... work, hopeful mountain bike ride
next weekend... secret Targetraining camp...

Followed by... possible beach extravaganza!
Exacting revenge on the Tokeneke road race. Well, not really revenge, more like defending Targetraining's win from last year.
then...Albany RR and Blount Seafood crit
then... something special
then... GMSR
then... Univest. Holy shit we're going to Univest. Biggest amateur race in the country. Or something like that. HUGE!
then... long nap
then... adventure!!!!

Till next time...
Keep your eyes pealed for the completed Circle A and some fun stories to go along with it... I hope.

A

delay of game

Water park ambitions rained out...

Bummer.
But Ali and I finally got a grill!
BBQ glazed chicken is out there roasting right now!

THIS JUST IN!!

Targettraining is invited to the Mt. Holly Grand Prix!!

And!

Targettraining is invited to the Univest Grand Prix race weekend. HOT!!

The Burg and exciting news

Fitchburg that is.
It went like this... Jake Hollenbach and I took the most back roads, asinine way from Burlington to Fitchburg imaginable. To tell the truth, I'm not even sure you could imagine it. It involved one way roads, dirt roads, roads that I could have sworn were driveways, it sucked. It took a hair over 4 hours and the trip should only take 3 hours. Lame. I have learned my lesson about setting the GPS Navigation to "shortest" trip. Inefficient!

Fitchburg went like this.
Day one:
Individual time trial. 10Kish mostly uphill, stair stepping all the way up, big ring little ring big ring little ring BIG RING. It's a challenging course. I had a mediocre time. I was 24th on the day 1:09' back. This was not my goal, nor the goal of the team. We were there for a General Classification result and this was no way to start. I can list the mistakes I made in the TT, but the fact remains I didn't go fast enough.
My teammate Will rode to 18th place 9 seconds faster than myself. And guest rider, good friend, and Echappe Equipment (www.racewheelrentals.com) owner J. Gabe Lloyd rode to the faster time for the team in 17th, .5 seconds faster than Will.

Day two:
Road Race. 94ish mile road race. Hard course. 11ish mile laps. Steep feed zone climb and 60+ mph descent every lap. Finishes up Mt. Wachusett. We wanted to repeat last year's race and put 2 guys in the early breakaway and then later bridge the GC guys up to the breakaway and hit the mountain hard. Met Life and Noreast and some other teams, for reasons unknown to us, did NOT want a breakaway to go up the road and it was pretty negative for awhile. Gabe was on the attack for awhile but to no avail. Nathaniel was also up there. Will was hanging out with me shaking hands and giving high fives. BFD suffered a puncture VERY early in the race and was unable to rejoin the group. We were down to 4 guys. With 2 guys off the front, maybe a minute up and nothing really developing, I attacked the feed zone on lap 3 like it was the last lap. I was able to gap the field easily and draw out 4 other riders. We rode well for a little while but the field drew up back in. Again it would seem that nothing was going to get away. My acceleration brought back the 2 riders up the road and we were back to ground zero.
Some more laps went by and late in the race with 2 or maybe 3 laps remaining I attacked the race again up the climb and the field shattered. There were gaps all over the place and the lead group I was in contained the GC leader and some strong riders. Unfortunatly, they didn't seem to inspired even after I reported that the race is in pieces and we had a gap. The field came all back together on the descent.
The pace hotted up the final time up the feed zone, and I was tired and hurting, but didn't think I was too deep in trouble. I hadn't even made it to the entrance of the pain cave yet. I was focused and preparing for the final climb up Wachusett.
We came into the turn quickly and finding myself alone in the front 10 wheels, I decided to go for it. Figuring that if I rode my own pace at the front, sure some guys would come around, but I would maintain a good placing and pull back from time on GC.
Well.
It wasn't to be. I lead the field up the first pitch, aggressively but not 100% full gas, and as we turned left and there was the secondary acceleration, the lights went out.
Everything was black.
My hamstrings were twitching, stomach was gurgling, it was game over. I'm not sure what flipped the switch, but there was nothing I could do. Looking forward and hoping for some relief and/or recovery that would never come, I grinded my way up. Feeling awful. I reached the top, falling flat on my face in the grass when I got to the top.
I managed to lose 3.5 minutes in 2K. WTF.
Not entirely sure what the problem was... and that's the frustrating part.
Later that night it was clear that "The Storm" and "The Cat 3" ate all my pretzels which I was really looking forward too, and my heart was nearly broken. In retrospect, I have never made it to the final climb with the lead group, let alone lead the lead the group into the finale, so I think it's safe to say that progress is being made.

Day 3:
Circuit race. 3.1 mile circuit, short punchy stair steppy hill. 45+ MPH descent. Nothing much happens. I was angry at the start. My GC hopes had vanished, and I wanted a result.
Repeatedly attacking the race up the climb, through the feed zone/flat area, in the wood, and even on the descent. No luck. I forced some splits and made some impressive moves, but nothing stuck.
On the last lap I hit the hairpin (2nd to last corner) about 80th wheel. A little far back for the sprint. And then there it was... just as I had imagined it would happen. The race strung out, swung far left, because no one wanted to pull. BOOM, on the gas and into the super tuck. I just jumped from 80th to 15th. Back in line and in kill mode, I was in the hunt. My legs felt fine and I know the finish hill well.
I jumped up a few more places and forced my way into the top 10 wheels. Gabe was there at the finale and lead us into the base of the hill at Mach 33 (it was fast), I jumped to the inside and had a faster line than a lot of guys in front of me. Isaac Howe was just in front of me and I knew that was a good marker. I could see the leaders just in front of him and I was flying. Digging deep. Across the stair step and still moving forward and then traffic. Let off the gas, throw some shoulders around, more traffic, and back on the gas. I lost some momentum.
I finished 7th. Satisfied and angry all at the same time. It was right there. I saw it. I could smell it, I got boxed in.

Day 4:
Criterium. Downtown Fitchburg, .9 mile course. Gradual uphill finish, u-turn at the top, chicane then 2 90 degree corners into the finishing straight. Generally all around fast. Attack after counter after attack and we were unsuccessful in making a split. Nothing was going. I had tunnel vision the entire race and was ready to win 8 different ways. The team rode amazing...
With 2 corners to go, Will was 5th wheel into the 2nd to last corner and I tell him he needs to go, no brakes. And his hands off the brakes we flew into the corners. I had it. I could feel it from 2 corners out.
Everyone following our wheels couldn't hold the line and went into the hay bails.
The lead 2 riders got a gap out of the corner, which would have been ok if the riders in 3rd and 4th sprinter, but they dropped off and I had to close a gap.
50 meters, then it was 40 meters.
Into the 12 uphill and it's down to 30 meters, keep looking forward. My earpiece is alive with shouting and instructions and I'm flying, my legs are fresh.
Into the 11 and it's down to 20 meters
Head bobbing up and down, running out of road. I can see it... the sunshine is brighter when you're at the pointy end and it's down to 10 meters.
And there, I'm right behind them! I'm there!
And no! shit!
I've run out of road. We're at the line and I've run out of road...
3rd.
It's a podium. It feels great. But it was soo close. It's been a long time since I've been that close, and it felt amazing. And it was right there...

I don't know my final GC, I'm not sure it's too important right now. The team again rode fantastically together, and we all had fun doing it. Gabe was a perfect fit on the team and hopefully he'll be joining us again in the future.

In other news.
I now have health insurance! And dental insurance!
And I'm going to the water park on Sunday!

And!!
I found the perfect place to go mountain biking. I think in every mountain bikers mind there is a place that they picture that is perfect. Whether it's super rocky, or buffed out, or technical or whatever, when you think of single track you picture something. And yesterday I found it. I found the place that I always picture in my mind and I had no idea that it even existed. It was... perfect. It was hard and it was challenging and it was excited and fast and technical and it's here in Vermont. So who ever comes to visit, BRING YOUR MOUNTAIN BIKE. This place will blow your face off.

Can you handle the pressure?

No... not of Fitchburg.
I know it starts tomorrow, but deep in my brain I keep thinking about my OTHER bike.

Believe me when I say that I am super motivated for this weekend. SUPER.

But to wet your appetite for the time being.
Here is the full slide show of the frame/fork/seatmast.
Yes... seatmast. Steel lugged bike with a seatmast. Courtesy of Brian Chapman at Circle A Cycles. www.circleacycles.com

http://www.circleacycles.com/brian/bikes/adam/

Build list:
frame: steel Circle A custom serious integrated seatmast, lugged
fork: Easton EC90 1" full carbon fork
front hub: DT Swiss 240s 28h black
rear hub: DT Swiss 240s 28h black
Spokes: DT Swiss black Competition/revolution
Nipples: DT Swiss alloy red
Rims: DT Swiss 1.1 RR single eyelet black 28h
Tire: Vredstein Forteza 23mm black
stem: Ritchey WCS 100mm ano black
handlebar: Ritchey WCS anotomic 42cm black
Bar tape: Cinelli cork Natural
Saddle: Selle Italia Flite, solid black
shifters: SRAM Red
front brake: Sram RED
rear brake: SRAM Red
rear der: SRAM Red with ceramic pulleys
front der: SRAM Red braze-on
Cassette: SRAM Red 11-26
Cranbkset: SRAM Red 170mm 53/39
Chain: SRAM PC1090-R
seatpost: Thomson Elite top
Pedals: Crank Brothers Quattro 4ti black/gold
QR skewers: Salsa flip-offs TI

Excited.