A must see!

Pictures of riding in the Santa Cruz Mountains the last 30 years.

Click here


I have ridden most of these roads (Alpine, Old la Honda, Page Mill, China Grade).

I love riding out there. Truly epic.

Where's Fredzilla?

Fredzilla has been busy trying to purchase a house, sell a house, work and ride a little.

Mediocre results at the Nutmeg Games kept him from winning the CT State Criterium Championships. 12th in the 35+ and 8th in the 30+.

Housy Next.

Fitchburg is 2+ weeks away.

Daily stress is painful and draining on the body.

Hopefully this will be in my rear view mirror in the next couple of weeks.

Yo! Where is my $50?

Somerville pro,1

I have done the "main" or "feature" event 4 or 5 times when it was pro1,2 and even scored a top 30 once. Back in 2000ish they changed it to pro,1 with a separate cat 2 event. I enjoyed the cat 2 event, but still wanted to be in the pro,1 race. This year I received my Cat 1 upgrade specifically for this event. Game on.

Today was also my 37th birthday and my first race of the year with the full team of Saki kids.

I was nervous before the race and during our prerace team discussion I decided above all things... I was going out there to have fun... and a lot of fun.

I tail gunned for the first 30 laps... at about 10 to go I made my move from last to the top 10. I sat in the top 10-20 for about 3 laps and realized I didn't have the goods to bring home a result today... I slowly drifted to the back to stay away from any crashes.

Great day. Great fun.

Here are the numbers

2hrs 0min
56.9 miles
253 avg watts
295 norm power
28.4 mph
1821Kj
MP20 274 watts

Hartford Criterium 30+

Round and Round we go. Short race, felt good, missed the jump... went thru the last turn 6th. Jonny Bold was away solo (NICE!) finished 7th overall.

Opted out of the pro1,2 as I wanted to rest for Somerville.

Here are the numbers.

36:56
16.7 miles
27.3 avg mph
286 avg watts
332 norm power
MP20 305 watts

In the cat 3 race.... LT BJ ESQ came OH SO CLOSE to winning.... NICE RESULT!

Turtles on their backs

From Stage 11 of the 2007 Giro

bikin' dirty

classic.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJnYVm4iaqc

Thats gonna leave a mark

This past Tuesday, GE sponsored a Special Olympics event at Lime Rock Park. Teams of 4 compete in Go Kart Racing. This is my third year and it is a blast.

My team wasn't as strong as we have been in the past (new recruits needed!!!).... but I did have one of the fastest laps of the day.

It is a lemans type event that is 4 hours long. As you can see... these things go 45mph and you get pretty banged up.

I still have a small mark above the large go kart mark that is from the bicycle crash (from LT BJ ESQ) back in February.

I encourage everyone to do one of these races... Our GE yearly event is open to non GE employees... let me know if you are interested.... click below for more information on kart racing.

http://www.endurancekarting.com/

North Stonington Road Race

5 mile loop with a 1km big ring/small ring climb per lap.

I bridged to the winning break... but it took too long to get there... I wasn't firing on all cylinders and the guy I was with wasn't working. By the time I got there we hit the hill and I was gassed. I was mentally startled that I was suffering this bad on this little climb. With me and my tail between my legs I was swallowed up by the field. In the end the break of 4 stayed and I redeemed myself with a 2nd place in the field sprint.

Here are the numbers.

31 miles
1hr21min
22.8mph
1296Kj
avg power 266
norm power 334
MP20 310

Nice Picture from Bear Mountain

I never seem to hit the bottom of the descent very well. Each lap I tend to butcher it. This was my demise for the Spring Edition. I need/want to redeem myself at the fall edition.

Racing for Penn State back in 1992, we raced on this exact same course. I was a first year racer and was in the C's. On the first lap, we were raging down the hill and a girl was waving the red caution flag like crazy .... warning us to slow down..... after a couple of seconds she dropped the flag and ran ..... and ran faaaaast...... about 20 of us had missed the turn and were headed for the north bound entrance to the palisades....

We quickly slowed down and cut across the grass and chased back into the field.

I later found myself in the winning move of about 12 riders with my fellow PSU teammate Jason Clark. Coming into the finish at Lake Welch (finish use to be there many years ago) ..... we were both taken out by a rider from Cornell.... I don't remember why we crashed.... we just crashed.... Jason and I both lost out on a great result that day.

Since then... I have raced Bear mtn many times.... never a result.... never...

Not even the year (1995) I was in the winning Cat 3 break of 4 from the gun.... we gained 3 minutes and I was dropped on the Tiorroti climb on the last lap.... That day I forgot to eat and feed myself. The race was 70 miles. A good distance for a Cat 3 race. I pedalled squares for the next 15 km... being caught by the field and spit out within the last 3kilometers.

Bear Mtn has my number.

They call him "Ben"

My friend Jeff's property borders the Naugatuck Land Preserve. His dog Tucker is facing off with number 47 "Ben". I'm glad Jeff grabbed the camera ... instead of the shotgun.

Here is the email I received from Jeff.

The bear has not shown any aggression in his two visits to our house and he’s obviously WAY too comfortable around humans. It’s easy to get a false sense of “safeness” after you’re out in the yard with him for 30-40 minutes. Tucker just barks, and barks, and barks, and barks, and barks at him. Ben gives him the look of “will you please shut up!”. I try calling Tucker but he doesn’t listen when he’s got a bear on the hook. Tucker has nipped his hind legs as he was walking back into the woods…then the bear turns around and chases Tucker a little. The bear has never growled or roared or showed his teeth. He did climb a tree in our front yard and grab one of our bird feeders. We’ve renamed Tucker from Coonhound to Bearhound.

I'm a dog now...

Even though I still act like a puppy... on crystal meth! (and the shadow of Big Brother Merlin looms on the left)

When is Daddy coming home?

The local clowns (Merlin and Maverick) are waiting for Daddy to come home from his ride.

Here are the Sterling Numbers

1hr56min
48 miles
238 Power
337 Norm Power (wow!)
24.7 mph
1662Kj
MP20 276

Bear 1,2 eats Fredzilla. For Breakfast, Lunch AND Dinner

Wow. I got popped. I got popped early. Stuck in the back on the downhill and legs balloned up when we went single file from the bottom of the climb. Dodging dudes and closing gaps did it in for me. I ended up coming together and actually feeling pretty good. I rode the 7 laps and finished... and on the last 2 laps went really hard for some great training.

Here are the numbers.

4hr41min
97 miles
251 Power
292 Norm Power
20.7 mph
4250 Kj
MP20 331

On Saturday I did the Sterling Road Race 35+. Missed the break. Missed when Mark McCormack bridged across. (I was too busy trying to figure out who was on Monte's wheel).

Led Bodin out to help win the field sprint for 6th place. Felt very good today.

Gotta get off my @ss and race my bike.

Monkey race report

Monkey Race Reports! Fredzilla EXCLUSIVE!

Click here

Is Fredzilla Ready?

Big Weekend. Sterling 35+ on Saturday and Bear mtn pro1,2 on Sunday.

I have been feeling good (not great) all week and have been sleeping... and sleeping a lot.

When I sleep this much... Belinda always thinks something is wrong with me. What can I say... Fredzilla loves his sleep (and natural chunky peanut butter spread with nutella too!)

After Jiminy I was pretty tired, but still managed a descent week of short intense workouts.

150 miles of racing this weekend is what the Doctor ordered.

Let's hope for good legs this weekend

Cheerio.

Look Ma... NO HANDS!

click here

Cycling Peaks Questions

I had some questions around MP20, TSS and IF.

MP20 = Max Average Power for 20 minutes. Considered the ultimate fitness evaluation number.

I have slowly seen my MP20 increase over the past several months.

TSS = Training Stress Score

IF = Intensity Factor

http://www.cyclingpeakssoftware.com/power411/defined.asp

Jiminy Crickets PowerTap Data

I came off the back of the pro1,2 race within 1km of the finish. It was great training. The third lap was by far the hardest. Racing hard with 2-3 hours already in your legs is the best training.

3hr37min
90 miles
24.9mph
87 cadence
2943Kj
226 avg watts
296 norm avg power (vi 1.34)
MP20 333watts
TSS 309.2
IF .914

GOOD STUFF!

Next:
Sterling 35+ on Saturday
Bear Mtn pro1,2 (98miles) on Sunday

Jiminy Crickets Fredzilla Award! 1st Place!

Rumor has it that this clown was a Cat 3 up until about a month ago. He recieved upgrade points from the 'Gimbles' Ride and his license plate use to say USCFCAT3.

Clown.

Fredzillas Dream Bike

Frame: Jamis Xenith SL Carbon

Fork: Jamis SL Carbon

Headset: FSA Orbit 1 1/8th

Rear Wheel: Powertab SL with Open Pro Clincher

Front Wheel: Mavic Ksyrium

Tires: Kenda 700x23

Derailleurs: SRAM Force

Shifters: SRAM Force

Chain: SRAM 1070

Freewheel: SRAM 12x25

Crankset: Shimano DuraAce 180mm

Bottom Bracket: DuraAce Ceramic

Pedals: Shimano DuraAce

Brakeset: SRAM Rival

Handlebar: Winwood Carbon 46cm

Stem: Ritchey 4axis 130mm

BarTape: Profile Carbon Wrap

Seatpost: Specialized Carbon

Saddle: Specialized Alias 143mm

.

This bad boy is freaking SWEET. Light, Stiff and Fast! When racing I put my Carbon HED Stinger 50's with PowerTap SL and Tufo Tubulars and the bike goes on another 1/2 lb diet.

Past Weekend.

On Friday I had to drive Belinda to Philly for her Sisters Baby shower on Saturday.... so I was not able to do Sturbridge on Saturday.

During the shower on Saturday.... I was able to go out and find a small group ride and get a solid 3 hour ride thru most of the same roads as the famous Univest Race in September.

We drove home at on Saturday night... I did the 35+ Palmer RR on Sunday.

Not much to write about... pretty easy course. I usually like a normal 40% attrition to get rid of the pack fill... but we probably only dropped 2 guys the whole race. I finished 8th in a mad up hill field sprint. My legs were pretty zapped from 3 solid weeks of training and a lot of time spent in the car.

Time for a good rest week.

Next:

pro1,2 Jiminy Peak

Tails from exit 14 and the poggio

(Names changed to protect the innocent)

JB: Beer and pussy. That's all I need.

Mitzy: We gotta find ourselves a Smurfette.

JB: Smurfette?

Mitzy: Yeah, not some tight-ass Middlebury chick, right? Like this cute little blonde that will get down and dirty with the guys. Like Smurfette does.

Beaver: Smurfette doesn't fuck.

Mitzy: That's bullshit. Smurfette fucks all the other Smurfs. Why do you think Papa Smurf made her? Because all the other Smurfs were getting too horny.

JB: No, no, no, not Vanity. I heard he was a homosexual.

Mitzy: Okay, then, you know what? She fucks them and Vanity watches. Okay?

JB: What about Papa Smurf? I mean, he must get in on all the action.

Mitzy: Yeah, what he does, he films the gang-bang, and he beats off to the tape.

Beaver: [shouts] First of all, Papa Smurf didn't create Smurfette. Gargamel did. She was sent in as Gargamel's evil spy with the intention of destroying the Smurf village. But the overwhelming goodness of the Smurf way of life transformed her. And as for the whole gang-bang scenario, it just couldn't happen. Smurfs are asexual. They don't even have... reproductive organs under those little, white pants. It's just so illogical, you know, about being a Smurf. You know, what's the point of living... if you don't have a dick?

JB: Dammit, Beaver. Why you gotta get all smart on us?

Where's Badger been Training?

What Sopranos actor lives in the town where this picture was taken?

Hint: Badger favorite Leige Bast Leige type climb

Free expired Clif Bar to the first correct answer.

First day of secret training

Back to Back 70+ degree days.... just beautiful... I thought about all those punishing 18 degree rides we did in the winter.

Today was my first day of secret training with my secret training partner. It was very successful. I felt that I was where I left off last July and even a little stronger. I went red a little easier than normal, but came out of the red pretty quickly.

1 more week of structured training then I will have a rest week and then go into a strict race only schedule (with minor structured workouts) for the month of May.

Up Next for racing is Palmer Mass. Next Sunday.

Thanks for taking us Swimming Daddy!

Happy Birthday Merlin!

Merlin Clifford Badger turns 8 years old today. He is a 1/2 Lab 1/2 Golden beautiful angel sent from Heaven.

My wife got him for me for my 29th birthday. He cost $50 as a 8 week old dropout from the seeing eye school. I still remember my wife driving home with him in a cat crate and thinking he was going to get out and attack her (she was scared of dogs). He is now the older statesman of the family and they are best buds... of course reinforced by Mr Clees being the 1 year old devil that eats from the garbage and destroys DVD's.

Merlin enjoys the dog park, swimming, beating on his younger brother Maverick and of course mtnbiking with his daddy (who has MAD skills).

Happy Birthday Merlin!

2nd Smartest Person I know

JT has been racing for upteen years and a graduate of Yale and Harvard.... and of course many autobuses. He knows everyone and everything to know about cycling... a true class act.

I remember seeing JT for the first time on the "wall" in the Westfield Road Race in 1993.

I was in the cat 3 race and JT was in the 1,2 race. A small group of dropped riders regrouped on the descent and JT was chatting up a storm with a couple guys... I thought to myself.... he is the happiest dropped rider I have ever met.

He is a good friend of mine.... we actually don't know much about each other.. aside from cycling... but we always go out of each others way to say hello to each other at the races and catch up on lost time..... throw in an overnight at Bob Beal, the Tour de Roxbury and we seem to never have enough time to catch up.... he is a legend...

At the next race... Make sure you say hello and introduce yourself.....he probably already knows you.

Run Forrest Run!

On the right...
Famous JT (John Tomlinson) Hanging out in Central Park.
circa 199?

Is it January?

I need to ride. Yes.. I need to ride... my wife thinks I am going insane. I am gaining weight... the dogs are stir crazy... I need to do some tempo.
10 weeks until Fitcburg/Natz.

Is Angry Ron still Angry?

-->>>I think so

-->>>Good shot of me

-->>>My training partner winning the 3/4 Sprint

-->>>Crash!!!

Maverick ---> Maviclees

They call me Clees (maviclees).... Mr. Clees because I am nasty.














Maverick Churchill Badger - 16 month old English Lab

Battenkill Race Photos April 14th

Click for Pictures

Number 59 is a good one of me.

I like number 61. Shows 'Fancy' in the famous Guillotine Position.

Must Watch Movies

-->>Donnie Darko
and
-->>V for Vandetta

FREDZILLA!

next races

I have started off the MCRA season rather well. 7th at Hinds and 5th at Battenkill.

for me... the next set of races are Palmer and Jiminy. I cant do Sturbridge because i have to drive the Dr to her sisters shower in Phillie.

I have decided to start doing more 1,2 races. I recently got my cat 1 upgrade in the desperate dire need to do the pro,1 race at Somerville. I love this race. I want to race the "main event"

If it is not an MCRA event, I will be doing the 1,2 race.

This weather has sucked. I havent been able to get out and do long rides... I hope everyone is suffering along with me.

join in

everyone seems to have a blog. i need to be keeping up with the jones'. i started this crap with race reports back in the 90's on ReMax. No long race reports... but funny stories from my life and the peloton.