So Danny and I got out on Sunday and participated in the Bonanza Creek road race (better known as the Prison Loop). It was good times. Saturday afternoon saw us wavering a little on commitment to go race, me more so than Danny. It was hot, we'd been working all week, and the beer was calling my name. But Danny persisted, and in the end we were off and running towards Santa Fe at 7:30 am (early by our standards), spinning the bald tires on Danny's Saturn for everything they were worth.
The turnout at the race was impressive. Danny had about 60 guys with him in the Masters race, and there were maybe around 30 in the Cat 4,5, which I participated in.
The race was three laps totaling 55 miles. It was kind of hilly, but no real elevation change. The race started out rather casually, and despite my best efforts to stay calm, I was getting pretty anxious towards the end of the first lap. I spent more time at the front than I knew was wise, but it was just too fun to chase down the couple of small attacks that got away.
In the end it was a pretty large group finishing together. I positioned myself very well, but new I had already spent too much energy to be any good in the sprint. I was already fighting off some minor leg cramps, which is something I'm going to put some effort into figuring out, since that was my main problem last weekend as well. Perhaps a combo of nutrition and stretching?
Anyway, around the 1km mark I knew I was going to get blown out in the sprint (I'm no sprinter anyway), so I told our buddy Nick (who rides for Cafe Guiseppe, a small but very successful team that we sponsor) to follow me in, and I attacked off the front for about 500m until I was cramping and useless. It paid of though, as Nick told me afterwords that he took the sprint and won the race, I was pretty excited. I managed to hang onto the back of the pack across the finish.
It was my third road race in about as many years, and it was by far the most fun I've had so far. Definitely able to play a little more strategy than at the Crest road race, which really comes down to just suffering as much as you can until your at the top.
Danny also finished in the pack of his race. I think he was happy with this, as he had been pretty much off the bike for the past couple of weeks, mostly recovering still from his nasty spill at the State Crit race. He's still got an ugly bruise on his leg, which must be 4 weeks old by now.
It was a very fun race. There seemed to be plenty of support to keep things running on time and to keep the roads safe. It wasn't even as hot as I was expecting, considering we finished around noon. It's amazing how much cooler Santa Fe can be than Albuquerque during the summer. I will definitely be planning on attending again next year.
And that's about it. We've got a condo rented up in Taos for next weekend so that we can race up there in the Frazier Mtn. Madness. Looking forward to that race and a little vacation day in Taos afterwards.
I have to say, we are definitely enjoying our new schedule of being closed Mondays. Starting to understands why everybody else gets so excited about the weekends. It's sweet having two days off in a row! You spend too many years working retail and you forget that.
Racing Plans
Just thought we'd give a heads up on some racing activity over the next couple of weeks, in case anybody wants to join us for some suffering.
Sunday is the Bonanza Creek road race (aka Prison Loop) outside of Santa Fe. Info Here. Danny is a big fan of this race, as it suits his style (fast with a rolly course, no gigantic climbs). Which is really not my style at all, but we'll both be there, and hope to see some customers.
The following weekend is the Frazier Mtn. Madness XC race and hill climb in Taos. Info Here. I am also planning on making it to that one. Been having fun getting out to the NMORS series races. I've never raced this race, but have always heard good things. The course is just 17.5 miles long, which is about the number of miles I felt good for during last weekends 32 miles of punishment up at Sandia, before overheating and cramping and running out of water. However, it is at very high altitude, and I understand a few of the climbs are extremely steep, so I'm sure there will be plenty of suffering.
Then the weekend after that, August 2nd, is the Santa Fe Hillclimb. Info Here.
Not sure if I'll be making it to that one, but it also promises to be fun in that "I've been climbing for an hour now, my lungs are burning and my legs are screaming. Why did I pay to come do this?" sort of way. I'm hoping to be there.
In shop news, Tony is off on his Whistler epic as of last night. We won't be seeing him again until the beginning of August, when he will return with tales of huge hucks, rediculous days of downhilling, and foam pit jumping antics.
And that's about it. I'm excited about todays stage of the tour, should be a good one. Probably will be watching the replay coverage that starts at 10am. So if you come in before noon, and know how it plays out from the live coverage, do me a favor and don't say anything. Anybody that spoils it for me will be required to buy me lunch, or a breakfast burrito, depending on the time of day.
Sunday is the Bonanza Creek road race (aka Prison Loop) outside of Santa Fe. Info Here. Danny is a big fan of this race, as it suits his style (fast with a rolly course, no gigantic climbs). Which is really not my style at all, but we'll both be there, and hope to see some customers.
The following weekend is the Frazier Mtn. Madness XC race and hill climb in Taos. Info Here. I am also planning on making it to that one. Been having fun getting out to the NMORS series races. I've never raced this race, but have always heard good things. The course is just 17.5 miles long, which is about the number of miles I felt good for during last weekends 32 miles of punishment up at Sandia, before overheating and cramping and running out of water. However, it is at very high altitude, and I understand a few of the climbs are extremely steep, so I'm sure there will be plenty of suffering.
Then the weekend after that, August 2nd, is the Santa Fe Hillclimb. Info Here.
Not sure if I'll be making it to that one, but it also promises to be fun in that "I've been climbing for an hour now, my lungs are burning and my legs are screaming. Why did I pay to come do this?" sort of way. I'm hoping to be there.
In shop news, Tony is off on his Whistler epic as of last night. We won't be seeing him again until the beginning of August, when he will return with tales of huge hucks, rediculous days of downhilling, and foam pit jumping antics.
And that's about it. I'm excited about todays stage of the tour, should be a good one. Probably will be watching the replay coverage that starts at 10am. So if you come in before noon, and know how it plays out from the live coverage, do me a favor and don't say anything. Anybody that spoils it for me will be required to buy me lunch, or a breakfast burrito, depending on the time of day.
Goodies
Just checking these into inventory, and they are so sexy I had to share:
Hand made in the USA, as with all things White Ind. makes the bearings are impossibly smooth, and they look better in person than on the photo.
Single sided platform pedals made specifically for clips and straps, these pedals will put the finishing touch on any styled out commuter or fixie.
Hand made in the USA, as with all things White Ind. makes the bearings are impossibly smooth, and they look better in person than on the photo.
Single sided platform pedals made specifically for clips and straps, these pedals will put the finishing touch on any styled out commuter or fixie.
Show us some love!
First off, I'm going to ask a little favor here. I'm making an assumption that at least a few people who read this blog are our regular customers, and that since you are a regular customer you actually think we are a good shop, and have positive things to say about us.
So, if you would be so kind, a little review here or there on the ol' Interweb would be a positive thing for us. Particularly, over at Google Maps:
http://maps.google.com/maps?cid=1144969029970196991&hl=en&gl=us
Currently, as you will see, we have just one review, from a very irritated(ing) guy name Kelly.
This review was brought to our attention by a couple of customers who told us there was a very nasty review on Google about us, and that the guy sounded like a total A-hole. And they are correct.
I actually wrote a rather long, and in my opinion entertaining, rebuttal to this review, originally intending to post it as a review myself. But I have since decided not to, feeling like it would be satisfying but possibly a bad decision from a business owners standpoint.
A few other places to write an amazingly positive review about how good of work we do, how fast our turnaround is, how we know what we're talking about, and how you get beer when you hang out at the shop, and how when we do occasionally make a mistake we bend over backwards to try and make it right, would be at MTBR:
MTBR Bike shop review link
And now as I put that link up, our good friend Kelly has decided to post the exact same review up at MTBR as well. It seems that he is on a mission. We clearly deeply offended him by hanging out in the shop and drinking wine with cute girls For shame!
I've also been told by a local successful business owner that City Search is a good place to have reviews up:
ABQ Bike Repair on Citysearch
I'm not so sure that is as useful as the others for Bike shops specifically, though.
Anyways, if your so inclined, we'd appreciate it. And if you'd like the full story and want to waste a couple of minutes reading a genuine Lucero rant, shoot me an email at the shop and I'll send you my little love story about sir Kelly.
Well, the kiddo is up, time to play with trains.
So, if you would be so kind, a little review here or there on the ol' Interweb would be a positive thing for us. Particularly, over at Google Maps:
http://maps.google.com/maps?cid=1144969029970196991&hl=en&gl=us
Currently, as you will see, we have just one review, from a very irritated(ing) guy name Kelly.
This review was brought to our attention by a couple of customers who told us there was a very nasty review on Google about us, and that the guy sounded like a total A-hole. And they are correct.
I actually wrote a rather long, and in my opinion entertaining, rebuttal to this review, originally intending to post it as a review myself. But I have since decided not to, feeling like it would be satisfying but possibly a bad decision from a business owners standpoint.
A few other places to write an amazingly positive review about how good of work we do, how fast our turnaround is, how we know what we're talking about, and how you get beer when you hang out at the shop, and how when we do occasionally make a mistake we bend over backwards to try and make it right, would be at MTBR:
MTBR Bike shop review link
And now as I put that link up, our good friend Kelly has decided to post the exact same review up at MTBR as well. It seems that he is on a mission. We clearly deeply offended him by hanging out in the shop and drinking wine with cute girls For shame!
I've also been told by a local successful business owner that City Search is a good place to have reviews up:
ABQ Bike Repair on Citysearch
I'm not so sure that is as useful as the others for Bike shops specifically, though.
Anyways, if your so inclined, we'd appreciate it. And if you'd like the full story and want to waste a couple of minutes reading a genuine Lucero rant, shoot me an email at the shop and I'll send you my little love story about sir Kelly.
Well, the kiddo is up, time to play with trains.
Late Breaking News!
In a stunning display of impulsiveness, Bikeworks has decided to move the date of our Monday closings forward from July 20th to Today, July 6th.
Thanks to all our customers in their patience and understanding about our desire to generally work less and ride our bikes more. We assure you all that we will be riding our bikes today (and also drinking beer and watching some Tour de France).
See you soon.
Thanks to all our customers in their patience and understanding about our desire to generally work less and ride our bikes more. We assure you all that we will be riding our bikes today (and also drinking beer and watching some Tour de France).
See you soon.
