Whats happening?

Hey friends/family/followers!

Not to much to report on, as no racing has really occurred since Clear Lake. Just been working at Peppers and just finished a very successful rest week on the bike last week. I have never been much for rest weeks, as I feel like I can't eat stuff I want and when on the bike, always wanna go harder than I should. It was a good week though as I said, with the whole ride style of "go out, do your work and go home". Each day I still had a purpose to be on the road, either with some shorter LT or VO2 stuff, but as soon as I was done, it was home and off the legs or work. This made for a great week of watching the TDF.
Now this week, I start my final couple weeks of preparation for the State RR/ State TT. For the first time today, I tried motor pacing. From minute one, I am hooked and hope to do it quite a bit. I was nervous for myself and my motorpacer (girlfriend Bethany) as we had never done anything like this. I could tell she was very scared, as she didn't wanna crash herself or me, but man did she do an incredible job! We have some kinks to work out with accelerations/hills/decents and stuff but had a great time at 28-30mph! It was fun cruising down the road at these speeds, when usually a race type situation is the only time such speeds would happen. Coming from behind the scooter, and sprinting was the best part, seeing 30+ mph sprints into headwinds.

I tell ya, this TDF has been fun to watch and tomorrows stage up the Tourmelet is gonna be epic! Go ANDY! I think Alberto was very thoughtful with his apology and its good to see that they are friends!
On the other hand, how about Ivan Stevic at the Tour of Quingi Lake. Wasn't this guy banned for doping for 2 years, now he comes back and shows the bird when winning? Or how about Floyd Landis wearing a Hanes T-Shirt for his TT at Cascade! Now ABC is thinking of doing a story on Floyd, I think they should tell him to get a life and move on.
This weekend is Nordic Fest in Decorah. I have been involved with this every year of my life, with family and friends living there, and having grown up in Decorah. It is a great time with food and activities. My grandpa has run the "Rock Throw" for 20+ years. A cool event, Women thrown a 50lb rock, (sub) 150 men thrown 50, 150-200lb men throw 75lb and 200+ throw a 100lb rock! Looking forward to reacquainting with friends from Luther and getting some good food!

Clear Lake Road Race

Well Saturday was Megan and Eric Thorsen's wedding in Des Moines. I went down on Thursday night and did the Elkhart TT series presented by Zealous Racing. A greatly run event, and it put back in my mind how hard a TT felt. I hadn't done one in 2 years or so.

Friday and Saturday I did rides with Lou Waugaman, as he showed me the routes around Des Moines. Friday was nice as we had Reed R, and a couple other guys I forgot names (sorry!) join us on their TT bikes. Did a loop around Saylorville Lake. Friday night, Bethany, Doug and I stayed at the Staybridge Suites in WDM, went to Olive Garden and enjoyed the evening. Saturday, Lou and I rode downtown to the farmers market, which is huge! I couldn't believe it, and I had a great breakfast burrito and coffee. Rode back to my hotel and then got ready for the wedding. A great wedding and reception at Des Moines CC.

Sunday, I was up bright and early for the drive to Clear Lake. Arrived with plenty of time to get number pinned, coffee and bagel down for the 80 mile RR. Mercy had a great showing for the race and overall, the race was great sized!

Started off neutral for the first 3 miles then the speed kicked up as attack were thrown off. Unfortunately we missed the break that contained Zealous, Velosport and Clark Preibe. This was a dangerous break, and can't believe we missed it. Adam Price and I decided to try and keep the break in check and went right to the front to ride tempo. We rode a two man rotation for about 10 miles, before being joined by Lee Venticher(B2U). We then spent the next 10 miles rotating before Speedfix came to help. After a while, we got help from more B2U guys and single riders and the break never got more than 2 minutes. Even though 2 minutes doesn't seem like that much, we didn't bring the gap down fast at all, and a 20-25mile all out chase in the tailwind section by Duey/Rock/Moritz only neutralized the break with about 8 miles to go. I paid for my 40 miles of tempo riding on the front when I was dispatched from the lead group in the crosswind section with 6 laps to go. Rolled in off the back, disappointing....but what can I expect from working and expending energy.

Zealous did a very smart race, by having a guy in the break and took a back seat, having Lane Anderson win in the finale.

One thing I am finding this year, is the large jump from a Cat 3- Cat 2. I never had a problem being off the bike from Sept-Feb for swimming and then being competitive, but this year, I am about 2 months behind many of the regional pro riders. Even though I have trained harder/longer volume than I ever had before. I am not eligible to swim collegiate anymore, so will start riding in the fall/winter and come out stronger next spring. Next up is probably a couple Superweek races and then State RR in August.

Cedar Rapids Weekend

Drove to Cedar Rapids with Bethany on Saturday afternoon for the Gold Pointe Fitness Criterium and Squak Creek Circuit Race put on by the great guys from HBA Racing. I grew up in Cedar Rapids, and the guys on the HBA Racing team have helped me out ever since I started racing, so it was an honor to race.Was pretty hot for the 4 corner, wide open course, about .75miles in length. We did 40 laps in the Cat 1,2 and Mercy Specialized had 5 guys in the race, which was a good change. We were all active and involved in many moves to get off the front of the race. Nothing was going to stick during the race, as it seemed if there was a break up the road, either a team didn't like their guy in it, or the group didn't work well together. Ended up coming down to a sprint, won with a great jump by Derek Cassidy (B2U). We were able to get 2nd with Adam Price, and 3 guys in the top 15, for some money! I was in 12th, and once again, just not where I needed to be.....I made up 3 spots in the last corner, but if I was sitting 5th wheel, maybe could have gotten 3rd. Just need to learn! But overall a great night, with all my family/friends cheering me on. Was nice to hear "Go Carson" on pretty much every corner of the course.
Sunday was the 35mile Squak Creek Circuit Race. This course has a Muscatine like hill on it, that gets a bit steeper at the top and then has a false flat, followed by a flat area on top and a 40mph decent with a curve that gets tighter as you go through it. Cat 1/2 lined up with the Cat 3, which would make the race a bit interesting. Zealous was pretty active throughout the race, and Duey and I being the only guys from Mercy there, had our work cut out for us. I ended up getting away with about 10 laps to go with Chad Bishop and Jerome Rewarts in a move that could have been the icing, but B2U did a great chase and we were reeled in after about 2.5 laps. Duey put in a counter attack after this and drew out Jerod Osterloh with him. This was the move to be in, so I was able to sit in and try to conserve energy. At the end, Jerod is to fast for Duey in a sprint, and Mercy was once again crummed to 2nd place. I got swarmed from a bunch of Cat 3's in the sprint, and got 12th again.

Mr. Consistency for the weekend goes to me! Legs came along nicely and I am anxious to race in the upcoming weeks with some good form. Made money this weekend, had a great time with family and friends in nice weather.
Coming up, may hit up some SuperWeek racing, Clear Lake, State Road Race and hopefully somethings in between!

State Center Road Race

Have been stiff the last couple days after the crashes, but legs have been feeling good, even when on the bike. Made the quick drive over to Bangor, Iowa this morning for the 60 mile Cat 1/2 road race. Got all signed in and numbered up, and was good to see Lou, Paul and Duey.

Lined up for the race, and was not fun to see Zealous with 10 riders on the start line. Adam Price, Duey and I from Mercy, Paul and Lou from Velosport and a handful of other single riders. We started out fast, with Zealous insisting on getting someone off the front. Adam and I went to work making sure that a Zealous guy wasn't to far off the front, riding tempo. Lou got into a break with Lou up the road and this wasn't a bad thing, so we just sat there and sent a tempo that would keep them less than 1.5 minutes. Lou dropped Kurt, and this made Zealous chase hard which helped us out, we were able to take a back seat. Once Lou was brought in, nothing stuff for the rest of the 2nd lap, but at the finish line ( a 500m jaunt up a grinding hill, Duey put in a nice acceleration) which broke the field. I was caught a little out and was able to latch onto Lou and Derek Cassidy to make sure we didn't get dropped. In the crosswind section, Duey launched a nice attack and brought out Lane Anderson and Brian West, these three got up the road and Adam and I were set to sit there. Zealous didn't seem to like this and would try sending guys up the road to bring it back. They were never able to do this, so I just sat in the field and waited for the end.

Coming into the finish, Zealous were trying to set up Jared Osterloh for the sprint, which worked well...he did get 4th I believe. I blew up on the final climb along with many others, and rolled across to hear that Duey won! Nice job Duey and Mercy Specialized for finally getting into the podium that was held captive by Zealous this weekend.

Just relaxing now, and getting ready for next weekend in Cedar Rapids. Excited to race there as I had to miss last year. Good job to everyone in the race for making it a good day to race!

Happy Fathers Day Dad! I love you!

State Center Crit

Well today was interesting to say the least. I am writing this with bandages on my left elbow and left greater trochanter (hip).

Drove over to State Center, Iowa for the CICC Colorbiotics crit. A nice location and venue for a 2nd year race. All the way over with the Nicoll family was in blinding rain, and didn't know if the race would still be going on. State Center is where Greg Nicoll grew up, so it was nice to get him back there, he actually owns a couple apartments there for rent.

Anywho, got to State Center, and the skies were lightening up a little bit, a good sign. Got registered and ready to roll and by this time the sun had come out...hopefully a good luck symbol! Duey made his way down, which is always a great thing, such a great guy!

Lined up with about 25 riders, a good showing for a Cat 1/2 field in Iowa. Only the 2nd time this year, I have lined up with Iowa riders for the majority, instead of midwestern riders such as Texas Roadhouse and such. Legs felt good, and I was ready to roll. So much for good luck.. Zealous Racing had a lot of guys in the field, which meant attack after attack, which is what happened. Chased down a few with the help of Paul Deninger, Brian West and a couple others.

Then the bad stuff happened, I found myself chasing down an attack right after the start finish line, and I was going to fast, ran out of real estate in the corner and slid out....my fault completely, and a dumb mistake. The curb literally went up my rear, which didn't feel good at all..Sat there and was lucky enough to get back into the race once I found out everything was ok. Got back in, and was still feeling good, adrenaline pumping, laps ticked down and on the last lap I was sitting about 10th wheel, not a good place. Coming around the last corner, the 2nd place guy slid out, followed by the 4-6th with 7-9 going into the grass. I was unfortunate to go down again....can't believe it. Got up and crossed the line and looked at the carnage afterwards. My left elbow was bleeding, my shorts torn up, my shoes all scuffed and my hip killing and bleeding. Got some nice assistance by Randy Catron.

Now this is where I sum it up... Only my 2nd crit of the year, and I can say I have some work to do on cornering especially in the rain. But even though I have this to work on, I still don't see how someone who knows a crash in the final corner wasn't my fault, but yet the first thing he says to me is "Carson, your a dumbf**k!) Really? I can't believe you said that when 4 guys in front of me are on the ground, what else could I have done. Usually when there is a crash, you see if the other person is ok, rather than yelling and making the other person feel inferior. So now I sit here, just pondering what happened, and what I have to do to get better, I am still just learning to race aggressively, I haven't been doing it for 10-15 years like you. So THANK YOU for making me feel like a shitty person.....

Looks like there was a crash by Ben King (Trek Livestrong) at NVGP, this must mean he is a dumbfuck if he said he overcooked a corner too.....

I guess, I have to reaccess my ability to race with all you guys....since the majority of you wanna see me quit or get hit by a truck so it seems as much shit as I hear spoken about me. Again, thank you very much.

Anyway, I HOPE everyone is ok from the crash. Maybe see you on Sunday..if I don't get scolded and ridiculed again.

So, since it always seems to be the norm of give Carson shit on his blog, I am ready for the comments to start pouring in...but at least give your name, and man up instead of being anonymous.

New "New" Bike

Have had the frame for a little while, but just got the bike put together in time for this weekends racing in State Center.

Excited to get it on its first ride tomorrow to open the legs up for the weekend. Here are some pictures, hopefully this one lasts a little longer than the last one!! :)
It is a 2009 SL2 got it on closeout from Specialized. Same components that were on the last one.



Hope this weekend will be pretty good, not the best prize money, but oh well, I just wanna race! Hopefully I can text myself and the competition and get some good fitness rolling!

Race report and photos to come this weekend!

Quick Check-in

Not to much going down on the bike front. Still trying to get my new frame built up and will hope to have it done in the next couple days, to be ready for State Center weekend. Still trying to figure out my schedule for races, just got a job at Peppers Sports Bar and Grill here in Cedar Falls. A great place to eat that I would highly recommend to anyone that comes to town! Great chicken strips, wraps, tenderloins. Once I get to work and my schedule set up.....I hope to race State Center, Cedar Rapids, Clear Lake, Iowa TTT, (maybe Elk Grove), State RR, Grinnell, Des Moines. Intermingled in here, maybe some Tour of America's Dairyland, Missouri and Minnesota racing.

Have moved into my new place here in Cedar Falls, and liking the setup. Just a nice small house, with 2 other guys...pretty plain and simple but for the price I am paying! AWESOME!

Also looking to get into some cyclocross this fall, as I won't be swimming, so if anyone has any ideas as to bikes/gear/what the heck I need to do, would be open to suggestions! Hope to have more in another post.