Posted by: mshackley in Untagged on
Aug 04, 2008
In past years, NBC has had a byast towards sports like swimming and gymnastic, showing little cycling. Does anyone know where to watch the olympic cycling events this year?
Posted by: mshackley in Untagged on
Jul 30, 2008
So following what I thought was a weak performance in the Sisquoc RR and SLO Downtown Crit. I managed to eek out an upgrade to CAT 3 citing the possiblity of riding in the upcoming National Championships (which I unfortunately will not be). Like with anything you work hard for, it was satisfying, but at the same time CAT 3 lost all its glamour. I now have to work towards CAT 2.
I was planning to do 3 more races this season, in order to get a head start of my CAT 2 upgrade points (Tour de Gap, UT; Mount Charleston HC, NV; and Everest Challenge). However, now it looks like I'll be lucky to race just the local Mount Charleston HC (August 30). Over the past month and a half or so I have noticed that there have been times when my heart rate jumps up with little exertion and I get winded quickly. Being a typical athlete I attributed this to many things: the heat, fatigue from heavy training, and undereating. The most training I could manage without the onset of this condition was 2 hard weeks with the occasional recovery day before needing a very very easy recovery week. Even these hard weeks were cut short by my problem, as I continued to fall short of training goals, training less than planned. This was reflected in my Sisquoc and SLO results and I decided to take a weeklong recovery following those races before beginning intensive climbing training for the remainder of my season. On Sunday, I went out with the intention of climbing the Mount Charleston HC course a couple of times at a moderate pace. 3 miles into the first climb I had to stop. It wasn't the fatigue that I usually push through when climbing, but my heart rate had reached its limit with little exertion and my chest was actually starting to hurt. Today I visited my family doctor and was told that I had an abnormal EKG (and a "slow resting heart rate"; the machine said 50 bpm which is actually a little fast for me - the doctor didn't really understand the fact that I am a serious endurance athlete). I have an appointment with a pediatric cardiologist (yeah, I'm 17 and I still have to visit a pediatric) tomorrow where I'm supposed to have a series of tests to determine what exactly is wrong. Unfortunately, it looks like the only cure they will probably be able to suggest will be a few weeks, maybe even months, of rest. Wish me luck, but it looks like this might be the end of my season.
Has anyone else had any problem like this? Could it just be overtraining or is it more serious? What can I do to stop it but still be able to race?
Posted by: mshackley in Untagged on
Jul 20, 2008
The Junior 17/18 peleon was the first to roll out at 8 am just southeast of Santa Maria, California for 5 laps of a rolling 10.75 mile course. When the race began, temperatures were in the high 50s to low 60s and a thick layer of low fog shrouded the rolling farmlands. An early attack, virtually off the start line, was quickly neautralized by eventual winner Danny Finneran of Rock Racing and the group was all together by the first corner (about 1 to 1 1/2 miles in. The second corner, coming after a relatively steep descent and a sweeping bend, caught the back half of the peleton out as many riders were forced to brake hard, almost coming to a stop and some locking back wheels. After that the peleton settled in to a very leisurely pace of approximately 13-14 mph over flat to rolling terrain. A breakaway towards the end of the first lap survived for a couple of miles before a breakaway launched on the second lap established a gap of up to 1:15. The single main climb slowly thinned the field, which despite the growing gap to the lone breakaway, seemed content to maintain the liesurely pace. Halfway throught the third lap, the follow car attempted to neutralized the peleton as the Junior 15/16 group approached behind (the Junior 15/16 pelton had started 10 minutes behind and only raced a total of 3 laps). Annoyed at being caught by the younger group and not wanting to lose more time to the breakaway, the field thinned into a single paceline and pushed a pace of approxmately 27 mph over the rolling course. Eventually, following the climb, the angry official managed to neutralize the group which when allowed to pick up the pace again, caught many of the Junior 15/16s who had been allowed to pass. The third lap saw a major split in the main field, as Finneran attcked and, aided by the wind, split the field in two. This attack lead to the catch of the breakaway. On the climb, a number of minor attacks failed before Finneran finally powered through and established a lead group of 2 riders, joined by Patrick Torres of SC Velo. The remains of the peleton thinned further, and by the fifth time over the climb, Finneran and his fellow breakaway had a lead of 45 seconds over a peleton of just 4 with another rider yoyo-ing off the back. Hearing this gap with approximately 1 1/2 miles to the finish, the impetus went out of the chase as the chasers began to attck each other in hopes of riding in to third place. I (Matthew Shackley) attacked on 3 of the remaining rollers, but the 4 others held on before Morgan Ryan of Major Motion Cycling attacked on a flat section. The group remained intact to coming up to the uphill finish as the riders approached with Ryan Cleveland of SC Velo on the front, me behind, Joshua Courtney another SC Velo rider 3rd wheel, and Morgan Ryan and Danny Heely of South Bay Wheelmen fighting for the fourth spot. I launched my sprint too far out and Courtney pulled through to take third, as I fell to fourth, Danny Heely sprinting into 5th.
1. Danny Finneran (Rock Racing)
2. Patrick Torres (SC Velo)
Posted by: mshackley in Untagged on
Jul 14, 2008
Don't know if anyone on here is interested in the Utah scene, but last year I did this great stage race called Tour de Gap (2 days; 4 stages, 2 RRs, 1 Crit, 1 TT). It is more of a climbers' race but the fields are just average and not all of the riders there are that great (I think that's characteristic of Utah cycling). But, this year I can't find out when it is or if it's even on. If anyone knows anything about it and when it is could you please tell me.
Also, I'm a climber and I was thinking of doing Everest Challenge...is it legit or is it a bit of a FRED ride?
Posted by: mshackley in Untagged on
Jul 12, 2008
Don't miss this year's ...
Las Vegas Mount Charleston Hill Climb
Posted by: mshackley in Untagged on
Jul 10, 2008
What up everyone!
I'm actually just looking for some advice from anyone that might be reading this. I'm 16 right now, I'll be 17 in a couple of weeks and I should be getting my upgrade to CAT 3 in the next couple of weeks as well. I was originally born in England and I am still a British citizen despite the fact that I've lived in the US for the past 11 years. I am only classed as a permanent resident right now so according to the USCF rules I'm not allowed to race in the US Junior National Championships. I considered going back to the UK to race in the National Championships there but with current flight costs that's a bit pricey for a 60 mile race. I was wondering if anyone knows of any exception to the rule which might allow me to race in the upcoming US Junior National Championships. I don't really understand how for Juniors 10-16 permanent residents are allowed to race while for Junior 17-18 they are not. I am as American as anyone else. My family might by British but I have lived the majority of my life in the US and first got into cycling while living here. Please, if anyone has any advice, I would greatly appreciate it.
Matthew Shackley
