Super ride today for the most part. Coach had me out for 4.5 hours with 4 x 30 minute zone 3 tempos thrown in. Weather once again was super....except for a slight breeze in just about every direction I rode today....just enough to be a pain in the ass. The route was a 90 mile loop up to Estes Park and back.
I made my way up Hwy 34 towards Estes Park. The legs were solid and ticking along nicely with little wind in the canyon. The white capped mountains in the background would be the destination for the day.
About 10 miles up the canyon I reached the small town of Drake where I then turned off Hwy 34 to hit up the back way into Estes Park via the town of Glen Haven. My legs still felt super...and I was fueling as needed with Cytomax and Power Bars.
Glen Haven was booming today.
Outside of Glen Haven is a series of switchbacks. They suck. They suck no matter how fresh your legs are. I think the 'Switchbacks of Doom' is what did me in....although I felt OK climbing them. The effort to get up them was just a bit much for having been sick, traveling, and off the bike for a week.
Once to the top it is all down hill to Estes Park. Who wouldn't want to move here? This is one of my fav rides from the house.
When I got in Estes Park I stopped and filled up my bottles and kept on going. The rest would be easy....so I thought. It was pretty much all down hill to the mouth of the canyon.
On the way out of town I had to wait on roughly 40 elk running down the middle of Hwy 34. I shot a movie of them running in front of me on the road....but it didn't turn out. Drat! So the photo of them off the road will have to do.
The real fun began on the way down the canyon. By now it is mid-afternoon and a head wind has developed. I still had one more interval to do....but the legs had no gas. I tried to maintain the wattage numbers needed, but it wasn't happen. My speed going downhill was very close to that when climbing up to Estes Park....18ish mph. I stopped the interval and just spun home in survival mode. Ran into Faia and Dusty out on a training session and I welcomed the stop to chat. I was fried...cooked....game over. After a brief chat, I spun home to arrive some 5 hours after I started.
That is all for now. I am out'a here tomorrow in the early AM. I have a flight to catch to Indy for the North American Handmade Bicycle Show. Updates to follow as time and wifi access allow.
Check out what just landed Stateside! A better part of the Ergon Outdoor line of packs is now here! Over the next few months, these packs will start making their way to select retail shops in the USA. If you have a ton of stuff to carry during your outdoor activities, the BA3 is the route to go. I have used this pack on and off the bike, and it is the pack to have if you have a large heavy load to carry.
Here is the BA3 completely filled up. Lots of room here folks! Chances are if it doesn't fit....you shouldn't be taking it along. Notice all the buckles and loops. This gives the user even more options to strap stuff to the outside of the pack. For example: snowshoes, sleeping pads, hiking poles, etc, etc.
The outdoor packs follow the same technology of the bike packs. The external frame and Flink ball joint system allow for freedom of movement and a gravity defying user experience.
Like I said, lots of room here. All the photos above were shot with 2 pillows stuffed inside. Don't forget, there is also a seperate compartment for a 100 oz bladder to fill with beer....err.....water.
I have had a chance to put the BA3 to the test in the prototype stages. The overnight trip to Winter Park from Boulder was an eye opener for me.....and just nicks the edge of the possibilities available when wearing the pack.
It's all hot out and stuff. Lots of sweating today. It sucked. Major swamp ass. Ha! Little sarcarsm for ya. Actually the weather is super awesome with the temps sitting close to 70F. Other than the 20 mph wind blowing out of the west it was a fan-tabulous day to be out training. The legs are finally coming around after the week long hiatus. Coach put me out there for a scheduled 4 hours....with 3 x 30 minute zone 3 tempos thrown in to wake up the sleepy legs. Didn't take long and they were ticking along just fine. For those of you in the cold weather climates....I wish I could bring you here to ride today. Its amazing out!
I was lusting for the mountains today. It's been quite some time since I rode west and to the upper elevations. So for my ride I headed towards Estes Park with the goal of riding as far as I could in the time aloted. As always, the wind in the canyon was from every direction creating a vortex of suck. It's a small price to pay when the warm weather settles upon the Front Range. My legs felt better as the minutes ticked by. Flet good to have snappy legs.
One more day in Colorado for me. Warm weather is going hang around for a few days, so it looks like one more solid day of bike time before hopping on another jet for Indy and the NAHBS.
Speaking of one more day, I have 4.5 hours of ass-to-chamois-to-seat planned. Rather, I should say, Coach as 4.5 hours planned for me. Any ideas on a route? I am thinking maybe the Poudre Canyon....or even Estes Park again.
This grip is going to be HOT! It is very similar to a traditional round grip....but....it has some hints of ergonomic shaping that only the folks of Ergon can provide.
Last time I sat on a bike seat was my last lap at the 24 Hours Old Pueblo....that was around 1 week ago. Within a day after the race, a small little virus and then some business travel kept me off the bike the days following Old Pueblo. I needed to get some exercise! It's amazing how sloth-like you begin to feel after not doing much.
Now back in Colorado and pretty much recovered from the virus that invaded my tired body, I was able to get out and enjoy the 60F temps sitting around here in the Front Range. One thing is for sure, my legs felt like I haven't pedaled a bike in 7-8 days. Today's 2 hour session just seemed to drag on....like the entire thing was in slow motion. I need to get in the bike time that I can over the next 3 days. On Thursday I head to Indianapolis for the Handmade Bike Show. This will be strictly work and no riding.
Here is your Frostbike recap...
Midwest boy de-snows the rental car while the SoCal boss takes photos. I had the snow removal experience. It only made sense at the time.
Looks like Minnesota and Frostbike are living up to their names. When I landed yesterday, there was no snow really. This AM....we are looking about about 3-4 inches. Looks like the drive to the event could be fun as I sit in the passenger seat as my boss from SoCal drives. Nice.
Hmmmmm, lets see....what's on tap? Tomorrow I leave to the frozen tundra of Minneapolis, MN to attend QBP Frostbike. It's a quick in and out show for Ergon. QBP is one of our biggest distributors in North America. This dealer show is a good way to get some face-to-face time with our customers and retailers. It will be good to see a lot of my 'peeps' for the Midwest as well. Seems like everyone that works in a shop or races a bike in the Midwest attends this show. This is Interbike for those who cannot get to Interbike in Vegas. Instead of desert and palm trees you have wind chills below zero and people dressed like they are walking across the North Pole. Can't wait!
No Leadville 100 in 2009....no problem. Since I was 'access denied' for Leadville this year, the door is now open to do 2 or 3 other races that would have conflicted. On Monday of this week, I signed up for the Laramie Enduro. This race gets a lot of chatter from other racers for its great course. With its close proximity to the house and inclusion of the Rocky Mountain Ultra Endurance Series, it was a no brainer to sign up. Now, the question is, if I am focusing on this Series....do I attempt the Breck 100 after racing the Breck-Epic a week earlier? That might be a bit much....don't you think?
What else is there?
Oh yeah, I am battling a post 24 hour race cold. I am totally run down from the race effort, travel, and not sleeping at all during the race itself. The body is a bit weak and riding my bike is not a high priority right now. I just want to rest and make sure I get through the next 2 weeks with out digging a bigger sickness hole. On the plus side, I am not sore or anything from the race effort itself. Seems like what I have is what every other person has had at one point and time this year. I am just thankful I can get out of bed and attend to the daily activities. I hate being so sick that I cannot do anything but sleep. Rest, rest, rest. It's only February....better to kick the virus as soon as possible.
On the 2009 Topeak-Ergon sponsorship front, we were all sent an image of our custom Magura Marta SL Mag brakes. I am about fell out of my chair when I saw these. Custom colored brakes to match the team bikes. WOW! Very 'Pro' looking. I can't want to try these brakes....as Magura brakes will be a first for me. If it is anything like the Magura forks, I expect nothing but perfection. As far as the other equipment goes, team riders here in the USA should start seeing their new rocket ships in about mid-March.....just in time for the 2009 season!
It appears Irina is pulling out all the stops for the 2009 season. Looks like she will be ready. Will you? I am betting she will be tops in the World Cup Series this year.....as well as potentially win the World Championships. Just a hunch.
First event is done and out of the way for the year. The 24 Hours in the Old Pueblo is a good way to spread the racing wings and to test your fitness. The course, which is located about 20 miles north of Tucson, is fast! The roughly 15 mile loop has about 900 feet of climbing and offers a few challenges in the form of some rocky descents and of course, dodging the many sharp cactus along the entire loop. Rule #1 of Old Pueblo: Stay out of the cactus. You follow this rule, and you will have a fantastic weekend. Ryan Trebon of Kona found out the hard way on lap 1 when he over shot a corner and landed in some cholla. The medical guys on course had to cut his jersey off him so he could finish out the lap.
Just like last year, Ergon signed up to race the 5 Person Co-ed race. But for this year, we were a man down. Not a huge deal really, as we were just there to get some bike time in and ride hard. If we won...great. If not....it was not a super huge deal. I came into this race with some intensity in the legs. Yuki seemed about the same as me in terms of fitness. Wiens hadn't been on a bike in months, and Sonya was fighting a sinus cold that had her run down and weak.
Our race went very well considering all the other factors. Sonya did 3 laps early in the race then decided to rest and recover. So that left Yuki, Wiens, and myself to fend off all the other teams from about 10 PM until the race ended the next day at Noon. Laps times were consistent and you could set a watch to the times. The evening got a little cool...close to 36F degrees. The early AM hours tended to be effected by the head wind that developed. The wind wasn't that bad....but late in the race with fatigued bodies made it pretty hard to keep the big-ring ticking over. On my last lap, I saw a lot of folks pushing their bikes into the wind..on the flat trail.
On my first lap I wore the helmet cam and shot about a 50 minutes until my SD Card got filled up. So, I edited the lap into about 10 minutes to give you an idea of the course. There are some hiccups in the sound editing...but, oh well. Riding this course, you have a few things on your mind: Go as hard as you can. Stay out of the cactus. Get around the slower riders as fast and as safe as you can.
Most tricky spot on the course? Well, it happened to fall at the end of the laps. You have a choice: Go around the rocks....or down the rocks. Here are some folks who went down the rocks as the sun set on Saturday...
Our team ended up with 21 laps for the race....and the victory. I felt good for 95% of the race. The last 2 laps were tough as fatigue was creeping in from big-ringing all the earlier laps. Laps time for me were a little slower than last year....but I don't think it was lack of fitness. It was rather just the time spent waiting to pass slower riders safely.
Check out even more on Team Topeak-Ergon at the Old Pueblo at the Ergon blog.
Quick blog post for you. I am sure you have heard by now that Team Ergon won the 5-Person Co-ed category at the 24 Hours of Old Pueblo. It was a good race with no issues really with equipment or bodies. Even with 1 man down and with Sonya feeling a bit ill we were still able to keep the laps consistent enough to pound out 21 laps. By my last 2 laps, I was fried.
Sonya, Yuki, and myself are heading home now...and we decided to stay the night in Santa Fe, NM. One more half day of driving and home-sweet-home. Only bummer right now is I feel like I might be getting sick.
Check back in the next day or so. I have some photos, and a helmet cam video of one of my laps.
Today is the last day in Colorado before heading south....waaaaaaaaaay south....to Tucson, AZ for the 24 Hours Old Pueblo. As a vendor and sponsor of the event, we are required to arrive on Thursday to set up....so we beat the mass of racers that show up. Yesterday, I got my race bike dialed...as well as Sonya's. Tomorrow in the AM we pick up Yuki and start the roughly 14 hour drive to land of cholla.
The race course is fast...like racing on kitty litter. So, the hardtail is the only logical choice. Racing on the team, you can give'r 100% on this 15 mile loop. It is pretty much big-ring material from start to finish. With good conditions, we can expect lap times to be around the 1 hour mark.
From my quiver of Conti tires, the choice was simple for 24HOP. I am running the Conti Race King 2.2 Supersonics sealed up with Stan's. This is the combo I ran for 99% of my races last year and it is fast....and adds a element of comfort and plushness to the firm ride of the hardtail. This combo lets me run PSI numbers around 20-22. It makes the tires hook up like velcro.
Grip choice will not change for me. I am running what I always do....the GR2 Leichtbau with the carbon barend. It's a good mixture of comfort, control, and low weight. No GX2 for me. I am a fan of the 'suspension' the GR2 wing gives. The GX2 wing is a tad stiffer. Although, I believe Wiens will run the GX2. This is his grip of choice for racing...and what he used at Leadville the last 2 years.
Speaking of Leadville, no confirmation card yet for me. Looks like access denied for 2009. Guess 27th overall was not good enough to get me back in. It absolutely blows my mind how some people never get into this race....while other can get in year after year after year. Oh well, I'll just have to sign up for the Breck 100 or 68....and save myself roughly $100 on the entry fees. LATE EDIT: I got my check back. Looks like I am 1 for 6.
Saw these 2XL earbuds at Best Buy. Yep, you guessed it, the green caught me eye. Would make a nice addition to the 'Ergon green' lifestyle. Hmmmmmm, maybe even a super promotional product at events. Maybe hand some out at Sea Otter to all the cycling crazies? Really, who doesn't own an iPod or similar device in this day and age. I know cyclists are all up in their tunes while punding out the miles. Just ask Irina....or any other cyclist.
Here is today's group of crazies. As always a stacked group of road cyclists from near and far. Not sure how many folks in attendance....I would guess maybe 40 or so. The route today was the same as every week....except for a detour around the sketchy Hwy 14. Instead, we did a section of gravel...it was delightful. When the group hit the gravel I kept my speed we had on the pavement and soon found myself alone. I was shortly joined by a Legacy team rider....then Danielson and Garcia. They upped the pace....but nobody really followed. It was so early in the ride to burn all the matches. The gravel quickly set the tone for the ride as groups were formed.
Once we headed south towards the town of Severance we were soon single file thanks to Danielson and some other riders. I have no clue who they were....I was gritting my teeth at the back. Soon the elastic broke...as did it for many riders. Small groups formed. I found myself with 2 other guys...then we picked up one other. By the time we got to the Widsor 'Wall' there was only 3 of us....then myself...when my riding partners turn to head home. By the time I got to HWY 34 east of Loveland I was caught by a group of like 10 riders. I rode with these guys until we got to Johnstown.
Outside Johnstown we came upon Danielson, Garcia and a few other riders who where stopped by our next turn. We rode as a group until the speed became too much....which wasn't long...less than 2 miles. This stretch of road would pretty much dictate the final rider groups for the remaining 30 or so miles.
This was the final group chasing the Danielson group. I lost these guys at Carter Lake....I was fried. I had no more high end power. I pretty much used everything I had to day. It was a good day. I was pushed...and we all need that if we want to get faster. I am thankful for the core group of racers in this area.
Spent my 2 hour workout today in Lefthand Canyon north of Boulder. Temps are still in the mid-50Fs.....but the wind was a bit fierce at times. One second it's in your face....then next second you have a crazy tail wind. It's a love-hate.
The workout today consisted of two 10 minute tempos at a specific wattage followed by 2 sets of short intense intervals. Legs were a bit heavy today....but they came around later in the ride. Hoping to have wings for tomorrows Oval Ride. I am betting tomorrows Oval Ride will be the hardest to date. Got word from a certain someone via a private message on Twitter that he will use the ride as a tune up. Lucky us..:)
One more canyon shot for you. I love the roads outside of Boulder....especially for some good solid road miles.
That is all for now. Time to go get some coffee shop time in....after all, this is Boulder. Oh, one last thing. Looks like people are trying to figure out if they got into Leadville. The website is on the fritz! Too many folks trying to log on. Just need to sit back and wait just like everyone else.
Thanks to Sonya, my need to attend my first NHL game has been met. Hockey has been a sport that I have followed and dipped into time and again since High School. Never actually played it other than some pick up pond games on the weekend, but going to amateur games has been something that has been done almost on a yearly basis since High School. Out of all the pro sports in the USA, hockey would be my first choice to see live.
We had good seats...center ice....able to see everything. No complaints here! Now, need to see about getting down next to the glass for a game.
The opening show. It's like Disney on Ice....minus the scary costumes, tights, and fairy wings.
Game on! Stars scored first, then the Avs had to play catch up most of the game. There were no bloody knuckle fights....but almost. Our seats for the night were the hot spot area to be seated in. Lots of super fans.....LOTS! Sonya got some kid on cam yelling all game. Kind'a funny actually.
Time for a 'Super Pretzel'! Sonya was so excited she couldn't sit still for the photo....hence the blur. I tell ya....too fast to catch on film. Look out female mtb racers in 2009!
Another 2 hour training block pounded out today to get the legs primed for my effort at the 24 Hours Old Pueblo in Tucson next weekend. No, I am not racing solo....but rather on a team of 4 racing on in the 5 Person Co-Ed race. Who's racing? Well, it's Sonya, Wiens, Yuki, and myself. Yeah, we are down a rider...but we will manage.
Today was also a good day to get some sun as temps pushed the 70F degree mark. Yes, you read that correctly. I put the camera back on the bike and shot some clips in between intervals.
Another warm week ahead. Lets me get those training sessions in at just about any hour of the day. Good timing, as I am swamped with planning logistics for three consecutive Ergon events: 24 Hrs Old Pueblo, Frostbike, and North American Handmade Bicycle Show. Next 3 weeks will be rough...run-n-gun style. Just when I get back to Colorado...it's time to leave again.
This weekend is the BMA Gala down in the bubble of Boulder, CO. Yes, I am attending...as is Sonya...to represent Ergon. Look out, this means I have to get dressed up. Geez, when is the last time that happened?
Pause......think, think, think...
Oh heck, I don't know. I think it can be measured in years. Anyway, it should be a good time with good food and good people. As part of the fund raising effort of this event there is a silent auction. Ergon is throwing some sweet swag into the auction pot. There will be a Ergon BD2 pack, 2 pairs of GX2 Carbon grips, and a signed jersey from Mr. Wiens. The jersey is only one of 3 in existence...and custom made in Germany for the Topeak-Ergon team riders. Dave's name is also custom printed into the upper shoulders....similar to a sports jersey. Is the jersey used? Yes! It has been worn throughout the 2008 season and could have been worn at this years Leadville 100. You want it? Get to the BMA this weekend!
Hey, I have 3 jerseys as well sitting down stairs. Anyone want those? Yes, my name is on the back of the jerseys. I will donate the funds to the Valmont Bike Park.
OK, that is all. Time to get on the bike for a quick 2 hour workout.
2005 Results
12 Hr Sugar Creek :: 2nd
12 Hr of Metro :: 1st
12 Hr of Thunder :: 2nd
12 Hr of Winter :: 3rd
24 Hr of 9 Mile :: DNF
24 Hr of 7 Oaks :: 1st
24 Hr in Japan :: 1st
2004 Results
Stump Farm 12 Hr :: 2nd
24 Hr of Rapelje :: 1st
12 Hr Nationals :: 3rd
24 Hr of 9 Mile :: 10th
24 Hr Solo World :: 12th
24 Hr of Moab :: DNF
Bio
NAME: Jeff Kerkove
NICKNAME: Mr. 24
COUNTRY: USA (Colorado)
TEAM:Topeak-Ergon DOB: 2.7.1978
HEIGHT: 6 ft.
WEIGHT: 165 lbs.
RACE CATEGORIES:
Pro (XC & Endurance) Click for full Bio
Super ride today for the most part. Coach had me out for 4.5 hours with 4 x 30 minute zone 3 tempos thrown in. Weather once again was super....except for a slight breeze in just about every direction I rode today....just enough to be a pain in the ass. The route was a 90 mile loop up to Estes Park and back.
I made my way up Hwy 34 towards Estes Park. The legs were solid and ticking along nicely with little wind in the canyon. The white capped mountains in the background would be the destination for the day.
Glen Haven was booming today.
Outside of Glen Haven is a series of switchbacks. They suck. They suck no matter how fresh your legs are. I think the 'Switchbacks of Doom' is what did me in....although I felt OK climbing them. The effort to get up them was just a bit much for having been sick, traveling, and off the bike for a week.
Once to the top it is all down hill to Estes Park. Who wouldn't want to move here? This is one of my fav rides from the house.
When I got in Estes Park I stopped and filled up my bottles and kept on going. The rest would be easy....so I thought. It was pretty much all down hill to the mouth of the canyon.
On the way out of town I had to wait on roughly 40 elk running down the middle of Hwy 34. I shot a movie of them running in front of me on the road....but it didn't turn out. Drat! So the photo of them off the road will have to do.
