The Internet of Bikes: 2013 Team Velo Grande / Wholesome Fitness and Nutrition Maine Time Trial Championship (Race 9 of the Maine Time Trial Series)

The Internet of Bikes: 2013 Team Velo Grande / Wholesome Fitness and Nutrition Maine Time Trial Championship (Race 9 of the Maine Time Trial Series)

Team Velo Grande / Wholesome Fitness and Nutrition Maine Time Trial Championship is race number nine of the Maine Time Trial Series. The race is held in Topsham, Maine. The course is a 20 mile out an back course that features long straight sections, rolling terrain and 800 feet of elevation gain. It is the final race of the Maine Time Trial Series and the Maine Time Trial Championship. It is also Frame and Wheel’s last time trial before the USA Cycling National Championships in Bend, Oregon.  Frame and Wheel is riding the Austro-Daimler tt Carbon Champagne. The bike is running very well. Conditions are calm and dry and temperatures are in the seventies. About 40 riders start the race. Frame and Wheel sets off at 9:15:00 and gets up to speed. The first climb occurs at mile two, but it is short and seems to go by very quickly. Frame and Wheel has riders in view and concentrates on closing the gaps. The road rolls on through the shadows and the sun. Frame and Wheel is able to push a big gear in many sections and maintains thirty miles per hour or more. The climbing starts again at mile six. Frame and Wheel is feeling the effort. A long descent to the turnaround provides some needed recovery. Frame and Wheel is inbound and painfully aware that there is still ten miles to go. Frame and Wheel concentrates on reading the terrain of the road, knowing gear selection and maintaining an aerodynamic position. The final two miles seem to go on forever. Drool is present. Finally, the line is in view. Frame and Wheel is out of the saddle and pushing hard to gain additional speed. The finish is fast. Frame and Wheel clears the line with a time of 42:39.5. This is fast enough to win the day, the Maine Time Trial Series and the Maine State Time trial Championship. Frame and Wheel is very pleased with the result and with the stuffed animals and the chocolate lobsters. It is a best effort and hopefully good enough to be competitive at a national level. Frame and Wheel congratulates all the riders at the event on their times and their commitment to the series and the discipline, and thanks the organizers for arranging and promoting a very fine event.

Fred Thomas with Austro Daimler tt Carbon and Mooses

Mark Carron, Fred Thomas, Doug Chaisson

The Internet of Bikes: 2013 Team Velo Grande / Jerrys Bike Barn North Berwick Time Trial (Race 8 of the Maine Time Trial Series)

The Internet of Bikes: 2013 Team Velo Grande / Jerrys Bike Barn North Berwick Time Trial (Race 8 of the Maine Time Trial Series)

The Team Velo Grande / Jerrys Bike barn Time Trial is race 8 of the Maine Time Trial Series. The race is held in North Berwick, Maine. The course is an 11 mile loop that features winding country roads, fast descents and some tough climbing (700 feet of elevation gain). Frame and Wheel is riding the Austro-Daimler tt Carbon Champagne. The bike is running very well and getting plenty of use. Conditions are dry and calm. Temperatures are in the seventies. There are 25 riders in this event. Frame and Wheel is the last to start. The first five miles of this course is all uphill and most of it almost imperceptible. Frame and Wheel feels the effort but concentrates on pushing through to the third turn where the terrain flattens and the descent begins. The descent is very fast and the road is narrow. There is a corner where sight lines are blind and another corner that is fast. The corners are well marshaled, but Frame and Wheel is conservative and giving up some time. The final section of the descent is steep and fast and ends with a sharp right turn onto Route 4. Frame and Wheel eases through this section taking the view that it is better to give up time here than to over shoot the turn and end up out of the race. Frame and Wheel pushes hard through the final flat section to the line. The race is over. Frame and Wheel  finishes with a time of 25:24.7 which is 54 seconds behind World Champion Masters Time Trial Champion and New England Time Trial Champion Tim Mitchell, (CCB Racing) but faster than Frame and Wheels time the previous year. Frame and Wheel is pleased with the result in light of last years time and the previous days effort at the New England Time Trial Championship, and views the weekend of time trial competition as great preparation for the USA Cycling Nationals in Bend, Oregon. Frame and Wheel thanks the organizer for putting on a challenging and well run time trial and congratulates all the riders on their times and for turning out for the event.

The Internet of Bikes: 2013 New England Time Trial Championships Wood River Junction, Rhode Island

The Internet of Bikes: 2013 New England Time Trial Championships Wood River Junction, Rhode Island

 The New England Time Trial Championship is a late summer time trial held in Wood River Junction, Rhode Island. The course is a 13 mile loop that features rolling terrain, narrow roads, some tough climbing (550 feet of elevation gain) and great competition. This is the first time Frame and Wheel has competed in this event. Conditions are dry and calm. Temperatures are in the 80s. More than 100 riders are starting this event. Frame and Wheel is riding the Austro-Daimler tt Carbon Champagne. The bike is running very well. Frame and Wheel sets off and gets up to speed. The first section is flat and fast. Frame and Wheel is able to push a big gear. The first turn is not as sharp as an anticipated. Frame and Wheel loses some time here. The climbing begins soon after. Frame and Wheel catches some riders here. The following descent is gradual but fast. Frame and Wheel is able to push a big gear and gains some time. Frame and Wheel negotiates the next turn smoothly and at good speed because it is clear of cars. More climbing follows. The road narrows and winds and sight lines shorten. Frame and Wheel concentrates on keeping speed up over the short and sharp climbs. The final mile is fast and Frame and Wheel is feeling the effort. Frame and Wheel can see a group of riders up the road and pushes hard to catch them before the finish. Frame and Wheel almost succeeds, but has gained some time nevertheless. The race is over. Frame and Wheel completes the course with a time of 27:17.2 which is fast enough to win the 45 to 49 category and secure second place overall (56 seconds behind World Champion Masters Time Trial Champion Tim Mitchell / CCB Racing). It is a fine day for Maine riders: Hank Pfeifle wins the 60 to 64 category (29:51), Dave Znamierowski (29:15) and Ed Sebok (29:58) finish first and second, respectively, in the 50 to 54 category, Mark Caron (29:31) finishes third in the 45 to 49 category and Anna Caron wins the the Junior Women 13 to 14 category (13:13) and the Junior Women 15 to 16 category (44:57). Frame and Wheel congratulates all the riders on their results and thanks the organizers for arranging a fine and well run time trial.

The Internet of Bikes: 2013 Tour of the Catskills Stage Race

The Internet of Bikes: 2013 Tour of the Catskills Stage Race

The Tour of the Catskills is a three day stage race held in Windham and Hunter, New York. It is billed as Americas Toughest Pro/Am Stage Race and it is part of the Great American Cycling Series. The Pro 1/2 race features a 12 mile out and back time trial, an 88 mile road stage that features the steep Airport Road and a 93 mile queen stage that features the famous Devils Kitchen climb. The event features 17,000 feet of climbing, wildly fast descents, strong competition and beautiful scenery. There are about 80 starters. Frame and Wheel is the only OA / Cyclemania Masters Cycling Team in this category. Frame and Wheel is riding the Austro-Daimler tt Carbon Champagne in the time trial and the Austro-Daimler Superleicht Carbon Di2 for the road stages. Both bikes are running very well.

Conditions for the time trial are dry and calm. Temperatures are in the seventies. Frame and Wheel starts at 2:30 pm and gets up to speed. Frame and Wheel is familiar with this course and knows that it is possible to push a big gear on the outbound section of the course. It is mostly downhill and there is a light tailwind. Frame and Wheel catches a few riders and concentrates on maintaining speed. The turnaround is new this year and runs through a small park. Frame and Wheel negotiates the section safely and does not lose too much time. Frame and Wheel is inbound and concentrates on maintaing speed on the gradual uphill sections and gaining speed on the flat section in between. This is hard work and Frame and Wheel is feeling the effort. Frame and Wheel negotiates the last turns to the finish carefully. This section sucks up momentum and speed. Frame and Wheel is over geared in last 500 meters to the finish and loses more time. The race is over. Frame and Wheel finishes with a time of 24:56 which is fast enough for third place and one second out of second place. Frame and Wheel is very pleased with the result and amused that the cumulative age of the first place (Jordan Cheyne - Russ Hays p/b Accent Inns) and second place Jimmy Schurman (Champion System p/b Stans NoTubes) riders is less than Frame and Wheels age. It is a great start and Frame and Wheel hopes to minimize losses over the next two days.

Conditions for the Windham Mountain stage are dry and calm. Temperatures are in the seventies again. Frame and Wheel has moved up into second place in the general classification overnight. Jimmy Schurman is penalized thirty seconds for riding to the right of the white line for more than fifteen seconds during the time trial. This rule is easily overlooked. Frame and Wheel could have easily incurred this penalty and is lucky to have ridden in the correct section of road while under the observation of the officials. The field sets off from the Windham Mountain Ski Resort at 11 am. The pace is fast. Frame and Wheel is trying to stay near the front. It is hard work. On the rise just before the long descent to the valley floor, a two man break including Erik Levinsohn (Bike Reg.com) forms. The field hesitates. Frame and Wheel hesitates too despite having witnessed Mr. Levinsohn’s climbing abilities at the Tour of the Dragons and Tour of the Hilltowns. The rationale is there is a long fast descent coming up and another 80 miles of climbing to go after that. Additionally, Mr. Levinsohn is down two minutes in the general classification. Frame and Wheels stops thinking about strategy and focusses on the upcoming descent. The field sweeps down the road approaching speeds of 50 miles per hour. The break is in sight on the following rolling sections, but soon the field slows and the break is gone. Frame and Wheel settles in and concentrates on riding a steady race. 

The field arrives at the Durham climb. This section is about two miles long with about 1,500 feet of climbing. Air temperatures are cool. Frame and Wheel is working hard, but feeling fine. The compact gearing is an essential choice for this race. The field does not thin out much. The race continues back into the town of Windham and heads back towards the descent to the valley floor. Frame and Wheel tries to stay well fed and out of the wind. At mile 55, the field again arrives at the town of Durham and the climb that follows. This time the field shrinks. The race leader is dropped. Frame and Wheel reaches the summit with a much smaller group. The pace picks up on the rolling sections that follow. There is an attack on a short climb. The field shrinks again to about fifteen riders. Frame and Wheel is feeling the effort. This group plunges down the descent into Prattsville and heads for the Airport Road climb. Three riders get away on the flats before the climb and are soon out of sight. Frame and Wheel is low on food and in no condition to use remaining energy on a futile chase. 

The Airport Road climb is very steep. The pace slows and riders are grinding up the climb. Frame and Wheel is in the lowest gear. Frame and Wheel feels muscles and tendons in the legs that have not been felt before. A few riders zig-zag across the road. Frame and Wheel is in the molasses zone. The group reaches the less steep sections and comes back together. The pace picks up again. The three other riders are out of sight. Frame and Wheel recovers on the fast and sketchy descents that follow. The groups passes through Jewett and pushes on for the finish at the Windham Mountain Ski Resort. Frame and Wheel is feeling better, but does not have much for the uphill sprint. The dash for the line is another slow motion experience. Frame and Wheel finishes in 13th place (3:53:03) and is very pleased with the result. Erik Levinsohn and the three man break have made up a lot of time and thus Frame and Wheel has slipped to 3rd place in the general classification. Frame and Wheel is tired, but not exhausted and thus this result is wildly well ahead of expectations. Frame and Wheel waits a grueling two hours for two of the race finishers to clear doping control in order to participate in the podium ceremony. Frame and Wheel heads back to Germantown for some real food and rest.

Conditions for the Hunter Mountain Queen Stage are variable. Temperatures are in the seventies, but there is rain in the forecast. Frame and Wheel is recovered and ready. The race starts at 11 am. The field leaves Hunter Mountain Ski Resort and immediately starts a tough climb that leads towards the townof Windham. A break including riders from Champion Systems forms here. Bike Reg.com riders are forced to chase. Somewhere between the town of Hensonville and Windham the break extends its lead. The field begins the climb out of Windham. It is not long, but the grades are steeper. It is hard work as Bike Reg.com riders are trying to close the gap on the break. The air temperature is cool as elevations are approaching 2,200 feet. The descent into the town of Durham is very fast. The road is narrow, but the sight lines are good. The field descends at speed over 50 miles an hour. Frame and Wheel hopes that none of the residents choose to exit their drive ways with horse trailers or combines. The field safely makes the right hand turn at the bottom of the descent. The air is filled with the scent of burning carbon. The pace remains high as the field pushes on through rolling terrain to the three mile climb back up to the town of Windham. Some riders from the break trickle back to the filed. Frame and Wheel is thinking too much and fumbling for the right gear and drops a chain as a result. Frame and Wheel is immediately out the back, but is able to get the chain back on the chain ring with out stopping. 

The field passes through the town of Windham again and begins the climb. This time there are clouds and it is beginning to rain. The smaller field reaches the summit and is informed that the break has a three minute lead. The downpour begins just as the field begins the fast descent into Durham for the second time. Visibility drops to zero. Brakes are useless. The field is strung out.  Frame and Wheel takes the view that it is better to risk losing some time here than to end up on the pavement or in a resident’s front yard. The descent continues. It is cold. One rider flats and is remarkably able to stop safely. Frame and Wheel makes the turn at the bottom of the descent and works hard to close a big gap that has formed. The field does not slow; the break passed through the descent in dry conditions and has likely extended its lead. Bike Reg.com is keeping the pace high; the field charges through the remaining flats that lead up to the Devil’s Kitchen climb. It is hard work. Frame and Wheel sits in and tries to conserve. The sun has returned and temperatures are warmer.

The field arrives at the Devil’s Kitchen climb and shatters. Frame and Wheel concentrates on riding a steady pace on this very steep climb. It is very hard work. Frame and Wheel is able to pass riders who are struggling, but many riders are up the road and out of sight. Frame and Wheel pushes through the steepest section and concentrates on avoiding “blowing up”. Frame and Wheel is again in the molasses zone. The grade eases, but the climb continues; it is very humid. There is a group of riders in view and Frame and Wheel is able to close the gap. Frame and Wheel and this group pass through the summit and begin the final miles to the finish. Frame and Wheel has recovered and is able to keep a steady pace through the rolling sections that follow. Frame and Wheel produces a tepid sprint for the finish. The race is over. Frame and Wheel finishes the stage in 32 place (4:04:47) and is simply pleased to have finished this stage. Frame and Wheel has lost more time and slipped to 9th in the general classification. Frame and Wheel is nevertheless very pleased with the result: in the three years of racing at this event in the Masters 40 plus category, Frame and Wheel never imagined racing in the Pro / 1 / 2 category and only wondered how anyone could race such distances over such terrain. Frame and Wheel never thought a top ten finish in the Pro 1 / 2 category would be possible. Upon reflection it is clear that Frame and Wheel rode the race rather than raced it; this is a function of not having any team mates and lingering intimidation caused by the terrain and the much younger competition. Nevertheless, the result is a significant confidence boost for the nationals event in September and future competitions. Frame and Wheel thanks the organizers for putting on a great event and congratulates all the riders on their results. Frame and Wheel packs up the car and heads for home.

TT podium: Schurman, Cheyne and Thomas

Here there be Catskills

Champagne visibility

The view from Germantown

The Internet of Bikes: 2013 Western Maine Androscoggin time trial (Race 6 of the Maine Time Trial Series)

The Western Maine Androscoggin time trial is race number six of the Maine Time Trial Series. The race is held in Bethel, Maine. The course is a 19.5 mile out and back route that runs along the Androscoggin River. It features open road and long sight lines on Route 2, rolling terrain and beautiful scenery. Frame and Wheel is racing the Austro-Daimler tt Carbon Champagne. The bike is built up with Shimano 7900 group set  (55T/42 chain ring) Zipp 808/Disc 900 wheels, Stages Power meter and 3T Brezza II bars. The bike is running very well. Temperatures are in the mid 60s at the start. Conditions are dry and calm. About 40 riders start the race. Frame and Wheel sets off and gets up to speed. The road is smooth and open and for while there are no riders in sight. Frame and Wheel arrives on the long flat straight away and sustains a big gear through it. This is hard work, but it helps Frame and Wheel get to and pass the one minute man. Other riders are now in view and Frame and Wheel concentrates on catching and passing them too.  This provides much needed distraction from the open and long sight lines of the course. Frame and Wheel crosses the Androscoggin River and is now inbound. The road is rough, there are shadows on the road and there are hills. Frame and Wheel loses momentum on the first big roller. The downhill sections are rough and Frame and Wheel must concentrate on finding the best line. The final few kilometers are flat and Frame and Wheel is able to maintain great momentum. The finish is fast. The race is over. Frame and Wheel completes the course in 40:37 which is fast enough to win. Frame and Wheel thanks the organizers for putting on a new, challenging and well-run race and looks forward to returning to the area for more great cycling. 

The view from outside Bethel, Maine