Seth Talks
Seth, Tristan and Andy had to race the SERC finale in Alabama the week before heading up to the National Championships in Vermont.
Via phone call en route through Virginia Seth said, "Fine" and "Good" so far about the trip. He is comfortable with his feet up and enjoying the scenery. He also learned to say, "the swollen ovarian portion of the plant" today.
The Kemps made up time while the team van was stuck in traffic on I-81. We gave them a heads-up on the alternate route around traffic, but they are still 20 miles back from the posh amenities the team rig has to offer a weary traveler, mainly a bed and walking around room.
Brad and Kelby (the new guy from WI) and Jansen are separately on their way to the race.
SERC Finale
The weather seemed a little sketchy, but at the highest point in Alabama the clouds didn't seem to be able to rain down, even at 2,400 feet. Early morning heavy fog gave way to beautiful sunshine on this excellent course.
The plan of the day was to maintain the position in the series standings. Andy and Tristan were 1st and 2nd in the standings, and Seth was 2nd by a few points.
Tristan and Seth had their man marked, which one they needed to just finish behind to maintain. Tristan had a big enough gap over the 3rd place guy that he just needed to finish, but Seth needed to finish no more than one back from Nick (aka Dalemous Nicholas). Seth's guy won the race, his first, and Seth got his chain stuck in the wheel and finished near last, thus loosing his 2nd place standing in the series, but still on the podium with 3rd. Andy finished the series as the clear winner, and without any mechanicals or flats this year, mostly thanks to the fine equipment under his feet.
Axel maintained his 2nd place standings, but did not do enough races to be given prizes, the same goes for Jansen who also was 2nd (?).
Mike dnf's, Ethan flats and blows his chance of a SERC win.
2007 National Championships
Mount Snow, Vermont
CycleYouth slog through mud at Vermont's Mountainbike National Championships
July 20th. Rain, rain, rain all week left the course a soggy mess, with one significant hike-a-bike section 1/4 mile long at least, which made it more of a cyclocross race than a mountain bike race.
For Brad this section left his cycling legs pretty dead and he suffered for the rest of the cycling part. Tristan had an early lead but got a mud riding lesson from eventual winner and local rider. Tristan finished the day 4th and rode strong where there was pedaling involved.
The hike-a-bike section seems to always be unridable to some extent year to year. We wish they would re-route this section in cases of bad weather to keep the cyclist on their bikes.
T Cowie for XC race
IN the 16 and under race, Seth suffered stomach problems after a promising first lap which he lead and was sure to win. The 5PM start probably did not help with the preparation.
The Kelby race went "all right". Placing 6th, despite his nervousness, he just didn't know what to expect. He started around 6th or so and help through the race. The bike push section was the hardest part of the course for him.
Andy raced Saturday with much better conditions, but the hike-a-bike was still a decisive factor for him as the walking did not suit this cyclist. He was climbing great when pedaling, but the hiking pushed him back to an unusual 29th place finish, and the lung burning was due to a sinus infection unknown at the time.
In the Super-D race on Sunday Seth, after dropping a chain and getting passed by two, still finishes 4th. Andy finished 9th in the pro Super-D riding a cross country bike. This course was almost a full-blow downhill course, so most competitor were riding big-travel bikes with 5 inches of travel or more.
Sugar Mountain NMBS
It's Thursday before the race. It's raining. The Juniors will race tomorrow at noon (Friday) and it will still be wet, just like last week. The climbs on this course will be all gravel, paved or dirt road so that will be nice, but the descent is all rooty and technical and muddy.
The pro race is Saturday and should be much drier as the forecast is said to be just scattered showers.
Ethan will be our only Downhiller, but Seth and Andy as well as Ethan are all doing the Super-D on Sunday.
July 27th Cross Country
Tristan shows his strength leading most of the junior 18 and under race. Knowing he needed to gain time on last week's winner he started the last lap climb with a 50 second gap, but may have put too much out too early as eventual winner caught him at the top of the climb, "I just went a little too early," said Tristan. Tristan finished second while Ethan and Seth maintained their 6th and 7th place finish. Seth suffered a little with the wrong tire choice for the slick conditions, but Ethan's Kenda's hooked up excellent. Tristan said,"the Kenda Karma worked best".
Andy raced the pro xc despite suffering a sinus infection and finished uncharacteristically far back.
Short Track , Junior Men
Brad, Ethan and Seth lined up for the junior men's short track (STXC). Seth got cut off at the turn after a back row start which put him near last, and Brad and Ethan was still behind.
Seth slowly passed to the front, taking 8 minutes to get into the top 5. He maintained that position for the next few laps. The leaders started slowing, playing cat-and-mouse, sometimes forcing Seth to the front, but he didn't play that game and re-forced them back to the front, conserving his energy. With 3 laps to go the leaders began attacking the small lead group; Seth had to catch up each time, but dropped the rest of the field soundly. Seth was left in 4th with only the 5th place rider still in the chase. He kept the pace high staving off the chaser to keep his 4th place intact. At 15 he was the only non-18 year old on the podium.
Super-D
Seth had a hasty start to his start as his tire was leaking slowly. Tristan made a sprint to the van to get a pump while Seth sat on the start line with the timer counting down to his run. Gasping for air Tristan inflated Seth's tire to his preferred pressure just seconds before the bell tolled.
He was having a great run and then caught up to a "lady" slid on a root soiling the sample good. Having to run up the hill with his shoe caught on the disc brake when he was at the bottom. After jumping back on, the "lady" was still in front, but he was able to pass her at the opening.
So, he crashed again taking the fast sweeping turn in a mad counter-steering display, spinning around, jumping and sliding on his feet doing a 180 with spectators as witness.
This cost him time.
Ethan's perspective:
Ethan wandered off during the interview...
He rode his downhill bike for the Super-D race as the course was more of a downhill race than a cross country type downhill as Super-D implies.
Ethan won by several seconds and hopes to be an all-rounder in the future placing well in xc, stxc, super-d and downhill.
Brad wins in IN
It feels strange not seeing the team every weekend. Last weekend I wrapped up the Indiana MTB Series with an overall Ex/Pro win at my home course.
It rained about 3/4 inch the night before and the hardpacked trail was a skating rink the first lap, but it was super fast the rest of the race since the course dries so well. I ended up 2nd in the pro class, losing by only 3 points!
My official season has now ended, but there are still a few fun races in the fall. Starting today my actual training has stopped and will start doing more recreational riding. The fall in IN brings many bike festivals and longer group rides in the great weather, and I plan on doing them since this is my last fall in IN. But, I will not be doing any cross races and will start tapering down before I start my base miles sometime this winter.
Iceman Cometh
Michigan Nov 10th, 07
Brad competes, having to bring his fitness up after a short break in the racing season:
"It went great until the end. I got a great start, and about 1/2mile in I slid out, dropping my chain in the process. So, I get back up and about two turns later a guy slides out in front of me and I plow into him, dropping my chain in the process. So, I get back up and about 3 turns later a guy slides out in front of me and I plow into him HARD, dropping my chain in the process.
I now am stuck in no mans land for the next 8 miles bridging back up to the main group, and finally get back with them after an epic effort. The next part of the race went great, but with about 3 miles left it started to get hilly. I was told from everyone I had asked that the last part was hilly, but the hills weren't bad at all. However, the last part had about 4 hills that were big walls of sand. I tried to stay with the group, but had nothing left after bridging up earlier.
I placed 4th in the junior-x. Overall, I felt amazing. I had tons of power, just didn't save any for the end. If I had known they were there [sand hills] my game plan would have been totally different and there would be no doubt in my mind that I would have been able to stay with the group up to the end. Oh well, the conditions were perfect, sunny and low 40's, and I got to meet Ned Overend as well as the Michigan and national KHS sales reps."
