Lindenwood Race Report 대학부 두번째 대회

Last weekend was the second weekend of racing in the Midwest Collegiate Cycling Conference (MWCCC).  The races were held at Lindenwood University outside of St. Louis.  Saturdays road race had awesome weather but a super tough course.  There were 2 big climbs each lap and the race was 84 miles.  I didn't race the TTT in the morning so it was my job to go for the early breaks so that the guys who did race it could save their legs for later.  A break of 2 went right from the gun and following that there were lots of other attacks. None that I went with gained much ground and at the races halfway point I missed the big break of the race.  I was still feeling pretty good but on the last lap I blew up and got dropped on one of the climbs.  I rode in for 29th by myself.  It wasn't a great race for our team but we did ok taking 14th and 15th place. 
The next day was a flat 3 corner criterium which was much more suited to me the weather however had made a big change.  It was 30F and super windy for our race which made it miserable to get ready for the race.  Once we got going though it was alright.  The wind made it difficult for any breaks to go so I decided to just sit in and wait for the sprint.  There was a sharp corner (120 degrees) with about 350m left in the race and I knew that positioning for the corner would be super important.  I was in the middle of the pack and made a move up the inside to hit the corner in 4th place.  Unfortunately I didn't have great legs but I still held on for 7th place.  The rest of my team had more trouble positioning for the sprint but my 7th still earned us some good points to help us qualify for nationals.  Our team is currently sitting in 3rd place in the conference which should allow us to qualify for nationals and field a decent size team.  We won't find out for sure though until the end of April as there are still several more collegiate races to go.

지난주말에 나 우리 대학교자전거동호회랑 세인트루이스 갔어요.  이번에 린딘우드대학교에서 시합두개있었어요.  토요일에긴대인 도로 대회있었어요.  코스 너무 어려웠어요2키로 자리 언덕 두개있었고 4바귀 다야했어 대회 는 140키로 이얐어요.  아침에 도 티티티 있었지만 나 안탔어요 그래서 나 일직 가는브레이크어웨이랑 가기로했어요.  나 몇번해봤지만 잘못했어요.  2번째 바귀에 10명 나갔지만 나안잡았어요.  그리고 우리 팀 대부분 힘들었어서 나 간사람없었어요.  마지막 바귀에 나 너무 힘들었어 그냥 피니쉬 혼자왔어요 29등하고 .  우리 팀 제일 잘타는 사람들 14등이랑 15등했어요. 
하지마 일요일에 내 좋아하는 편지 크라이테리업대횠었어요! 근대 날씨 진짜 안좋았어요!  시작때 -2도 그리고 40k/h 바람있었어요.  바람 너무새서 브레이크어웨이 못갔어요.  이코스 마지막 코너는 피니쉬에서 350미터있어서 라스트잘하고싶었으면 그코너 앞에서 나와야했어요.  마지막 바귀에나 그코너에서 4등나왔지만 다리 아직 힘이많이 없어서 7등했어요.  이제 우리 팀 시즌 단체전 에 3등이에요 이렇게 타면 우리 전국대학부대회 나갈수있을거같아요.  

First Race of the Season 올해첮대회!

Last weekend was the first race of my final collegiate road season ever (and also first collegiate road season in 5 years).  It was great to get back out there and mix it up with the IU cycling club Men’s A team.  This season should be a totally new experience for me since all of the courses on tap this year are ones that I never raced when I was an undergraduate.  This past weekend we were at Lindsey Wilson College in Kentucky.  I’ve been there many times for mountain bike and cyclocross races in the past but this was my first time to do road there.  The courses were pretty awesome both days and we had great weather too.

Saturday’s road race was held on a brutal 25 mile course that had several long and steep hills on it.  I knew it would be a challenge for me to stay fresh til the end and I was anxious to see how our team of 9 A riders would perform.  Everyone rode well with us getting two riders in the winning break away.  I didn’t ride as well as I hoped for but didn’t race terribly.  I realized that the winning break had formed and attempted to bridge up to it during the first lap.  I got with in 10 meters of joining but my lungs weren’t working and I blew up and had to float back to the field only for the break to gain 8 minutes on us!  I sat in the pack and recovered and started feeling good during the start of the third lap.  Unfortunately I bonked with about 10 miles to go and road in alone for 25^th place.  I definitely need to get in a few more long rides to build up my endurance before the next race weekend.

The criterium on Sunday was much more up my alley and I was hoping for a top ten finish.  The race was pretty fast and full of attacks but I felt from pretty early on that the race would come down to a field sprint.  It didn’t seem that any team was satisfied with any break away combination so everything got chased down after a lap or two.  I sat in an moved up to the front with 3 laps to go.  Unfortunately I was underconfident in myself and waited to start sprinting so I got a bit boxed in at the finish.  I still finished 8^th place though which I was happy with. 

The IU team performed well too with us placing 3 riders in the top 20 each day and getting 7^th in the TTT.  Our women’s A riders rode great too with a 3^rd place in the TTT and a top ten finish on Saturday.  It looks like we will have a strong chance of qualifying for nationals as a team this year.  The next race is in 3 weeks at Lindenwood University near St. Louis.  I’m hoping to have a stronger road race there and another shot at a field sprint in the crit. 

지난주말에 내 대학교 로드 시즌 시작했어요!  우리 인디에나대학교 자전거동호회들이랑 켄터키 주로갔어요.  나 오래 동안 대학교 로드 대회 못탔어서 신났어요.  이 대회장소 산악이랑 싸이크로크로스 대회 많이해봤지만 이번에 처음로드대회타로왔어요. 

토요일대회는 로드레이스 이얐어요.  코스가 40키로 3주회 그리고 큰언덕 많았어요.  우리 팀좀 잘탔지만 나 좀더 잘타고싶었어요.  첫 바귀에 브레이크웨이 나갔지만 나 천식대문에 못붗었어요.  하지만 우리 팀 2명있었어서 괜찮았어요.  3번째 바귀 시작할때 나 잘타고있었어요.  근데 음식 많이 안먹었어서 15키로 남았을때 나 Bonk 했어요! 그냥 피니쉬까지 혼자 25등했어요 (초 60명). 

일요일에 크라이테리엄대회 더 잘타고싶었어요.  코스 가 찐자재미있었어요 언덕한나있었고 재미있는 커브있었어요.  시작부터 어택 해본사람들 많이있었지만 다 잘못갔어요.  나 그냥팩뒤에 좀쉬고탔어요.  마지막 3바귀부터 앞으로 나갔어요.  나 마지막 300미터에서 앞에있었지만  8등했어요.  이번에 첫시합이야서 나 기븐좋았어요.  다음대회 까지 나 열심히 준비할거에요. 

우리 팀도 잘탔어요  매일 20등안에 3명있었어요!  대학교대회는 MCT 랑비슷해요 포인즈 시리즈 그리고 잘타면 전국 대학부 대회 탈수있어요.  이번에 4월말까지 대회있고 5월 첫분째 주 Richmond, Virginia 에서 전국시합있을거에요.  이번 에 우리팀에 잘탈수있는사람들좀많아서 타같이 전국대회 로 갈수있을거같아요! 다음대회 는 3주후에 St. Louis에있을거에요.

 

Me tail-gunning it at the crit.  나 크라이테리엄대회에서 팩뒤에타는중. 

Thanks to Jen for the pic! 

Back to Base Training 이제 다음시즌 준비시작!

After the disappointment of racing poorly at Iceman I took a week off biking but I started up training again soon after.  I realized that I always have problems with my asthma every fall but luckily it isn’t a deterrent to being able to go for normal rides or lift weights.  So  I’ve started up with my winter base training which basically follows a pretty simple plan.  I lift weights twice a week and then go for long rides on the other days when I have time.  Luckily the weather has been pretty ok the last few weeks and I have been able to get some good rides in.

IU doesn’t have many group rides but I did manage to get out on a ride with the club president Paul a few weeks ago.  I wanted to do dirt roads in the Hoosier National Forest south of Bloomington but Paul was on his TT bike.  Lucky for me he said he was ok as long as we avoided roads with lots of loose gravel.  We ended up having a really epic ride and discovering some awesome roads to ride.  We also crossed a closed down bridge that was built in 1893!  We finished up our ride at Steak and Shake to refuel.  I think Paul may have broken the world record for longest dirt road ride on a TT bike.

This last week I had a great solo ride too. I went out on my mountain bike and rode some of the forest roads in Yellowwood state forest in Brown County.  These roads were awesome with nice long gradual climbs and basically no cars.  I road for almost 3 hours on these great forest roads.  The one disappointing thing about living in Bloomington though is the lack of single track that you can ride too.  There are tons of hiking trails and horse trails around but almost all of them are closed to bikes.  It really makes me miss Korea where almost every hiking trail is open to mountain bikers.  For Thanksgiving I’m in Colorado with my family.  It’s the first time we have all been together in over a year! We are going to go to Steamboat springs and go skiing.  Should be a great break!  Happy Thanksgiving!

나 이제 베이스트레이닝 다시시작이에요.  마지막대회 천식때문에 잘못탔지만 일주일쉬고 다시트라이딩시작.  내천식 가울에 심하지만 그냥라이딩이랑 웨이트트레이닝 할수있어요.  내 베이스트레이닝계획은 매주 두번 웨이트트레이닝하고 시간이있으면 다른날에 긴라이딩해요.  11월에인디에나날씨 괜찮았어서 좋은라이딩 몇번있었어요.

우리 대학교자전거부 같이라이딩 많이안하지만 지난주 나 회장 이랑 너무재미있는라이딩했어요.  우리대학교근쳐 임도같은 도로 많은거있어요, Hoosier 국립숩.  거기안에 Dirt Road(임도같은거)너무많아요.  나회장이랑 거기서 50키로정도 dirt road에서 싸이클탔어요.  그데회장이 티티바이크타고갔어요.  이라이딩 아마도 새계최고 긴 임도 티티바이크로 라이딩이였어요 ㅋㅋㅋㅋ.

이번주도 나 혼자 재미있는코스탔어요.  옐로우드 주림숲에서 너무 좋은 산악자전거 길있었다고들었어서 그쪽 으로 갔어요.  나 3시간반동안 임도 타고 왔어요.  이길너무 아름답고 사람찐자없었어요! 근데 여기 싱글많이없어요.  그래서 한국조금그리워요!  한국에 등산로있으면 자전거탈수있는데 우리대학근쳐 사람이없는 등산로 많지만 산악자전거금지ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ.  나 양지 살때 좋은싱글너무많았어요 여기 임도만탈수있어요. 

이번주 미국 추수감사절이에요 그래서 일주일학교 방학이에요! 나가족만나고 콜로라도에서 놀거에요.  우리 유명한 Steamboat Springs 스키장가서 스키탈거에요.  우리가족일년동안 다같이 못만나서 너무즐거울거같아요!  햎피 땡스기빙!

Iceman Cometh: Last Race of the 2013 Season 아이스맨대회: 2013마지막시합 후기

I competed in my first ever Iceman Cometh over the  past weekend.  Its actually the biggest race in America with over 4000 racers!  Unfortunately it didn’t go as well as I had hoped it would.  My riding was significantly slowed by my asthma which flaired up in a race for the first time in over 4 years since I didn’t have many problems with it in Korea.  Everything surrounding the race was a lot of fun however. 

The race and its proximately to Halloween provided the impetus for a small Purdue Bike house reunion.  In attendance were Greg, Chris, Joey and Alan(from MSU but still a biker).  I got to show Chris, his GF and Greg around Bloomington on Thursday before we headed up to Purdue.  I had a great time at Purdue catching up and seeing people I hadn’t seen in a long time a surprise visit from Doza and Zach. 

After enjoying Purdue Greg, Alan and Jess headed up to Traverse City for the Iceman.  The weather was pretty good for the race and despite starting at the back of the field I had a pretty good start and was briefly in the top 30 riders going onto the trails.  I quickly developed problems breathing however and couldn’t muster much more than a tempo pace.  I ended up just riding most of the race by myself and trying to enjoy the nice course.  It was disappointing but not completely surprising since when I was at Purdue I constantly had problems with asthma especially in the fall.  The Iceman is probably my last race of the season so I’m going to take a week or so off the bike before getting back into base training and weight lifting for the spring collegiate road season. 

나 지난주 미국 최고사람이많은 자전거대회탔어 아이스맨.  4천명참석하는대회에요.  엠티비 마라톤대회에요 코스 50키로.  근데 나 천식문제때문에 잘못탔지만 재미겟탔어요.  나 원래 미국살때 가울에 천식 많이 심해져요 근대 4년 동안 큰문제없었어요.  한국공기 나한테 좀더맞나봐요 ㅋㅋㅋ. 

지난주말에대회말고다른재미잇는거있었어요.  우리 대학친구 몇명 만낫어요  같이살았는친구 3명 그리고 다른 친구 도 많이만났어요.  우리대학에서 도같이놀았고 퍼듀에서 하로윈파티도갔어요.  내친구들 너무 오랜만에 못봤어서 너무재미있어요.  

이제 내시즌끝나요.  일주일동안 쉬고 다음주부터 대학부 싸이클대회 준비시작이에요.  나 웨이트트레이닝 하고 베이스 마일스 많이할거에요.  

Collegiate Mountain Bike Nationals 전국대학부산악자전거대회 후기

I just got back from my 3^rd ever Collegiate Mountain Bike Nationals.  It was a great week with some wild weather, fun racing and new friends.  I decided I wanted to do this race back in the summer when I realized that being in the US for the second year of my MBA program would allow me to compete in collegiate mountain biking for one last time.  Also since nationals were held in North Carolina at Beech Mountain it meant that they were within a days drive for me.  Nationals also happened to coincide with my weeklong October break.  The only problem I had was that no one else from the IU cycling club was interested in racing but luckily I found some great guys to stay with from Michigan Tech and University of Wisconsin. 

I started my trip out on Wednesday and in the middle of my drive I went for a ride on the new single track at French Lick Resort in southern Indiana.  This is one of the best built trails I have ever ridden and I highly recommend taking a trip down to ride it.  After my ride I continued my drive and I stopped to stay with a friend in Lexington, KY.  The next morning I got up and finished my drive.  Upon arrival I went for a preride of the course which had a huge climb and a lot of muddy rooty single track.  It was not an ideal course for me but I was looking forward to the race anyway.

I woke up on Friday to half an inch of snow on the ground and below freezing temps for my short track XC race.  This is usually my better event compared to XC so I was looking forward to it.  I had a good start and was riding in the top 20 for the first few laps.  I then settled in in about 22^nd place but on my last lap I broke one of the cogs on my cassette and couln’t pedal my bike up hill so I lost several spots.  I still ended up finishing 30^th though which I was happy with. 

The temp continued to drop and it was 20 degrees F for the start of my cross country race on Saturday.  The cold temp however meant that the snow covered course was frozen and not muddy however.  I had a decent start and was riding in the top half of the field but then I wiped out on a corner in the single track and got passed by about 15 riders.  I spent the rest of the race getting the flow and finally got a good rhythm on my last lap.  I had some late race passes to finish 43^rd which was exactly in the top half.  I was very happy to achieve my goal of finishing in the top half of both races (there were 86 racers in Men’s D1). 

Following the XC race I watched the down hill which was a good time and Saturday night out whole cabin group went out to an awesome BBQ joint at the base of the ski hill.  Overall it was a great weekend.  Its good to know I can still compete on the national level even though I’m not training as much as before too.  There is one more big mountain bike race to go this weekend.  The Iceman Cometh in Traverse City, MI.  My old roommates from Purdue Joey, Greg and Chris are coming back for it so its going to be a nice reunion for us as well. 

지난주 나 미국 대학부전국산악자전거대회탔어요.  너무재미있었지만 날씨랑 코스때문에 너무 힘든대회이였어요.  지난주수요일 나출발했어요.  8시간반동안혼자운전하고왓어요.  이대회 노스캐로라이나 비치마운틴리조트에서했어요 (해발 1800m).  나우리학교에서 혼자갔어서 다른대학팀 2개랑 콘도같이썼어요.  나미치간공과대학교랑 위스콘신이랑있었어요.  새친구 많이 만들었어요. 

목요일에 나코스 답사했어요.  이번크로스콘트리 너무힘들었어요 머드많고 오려운싱글도 많고 근대 목요일밤에날씨너무추워졌고 눈한2쎈티정도왔어요.  금요일 아침에 쇼트트랙 XC 경기있었어요.  이거 내가제일 잘하는 산악대회에요.  20분동안 크라이테리엄같은산악코스타요.  나 시작에서 좀잘탔지만 점점 나뒤로갔어요.  마지막바귀에도 나카세트 불어졌어요ㅠㅠㅠ 근 얼마안남았어서 끝까지 탈수있었어요.  결과 30등 (86명탔어요). 

토요일아침에 크로스컨트리 대회있었어요 3바귀 (1바귀10키로).  나 잘탔지만 싱글에서 오름너무많아서 몇번 너머졌다.  그리고 날씨너무추웠어요 (-5도C).  나첫바귀좀못탔지만 3번째 싱글아주잘탔어서 몇명 잡았어요.  결과 43등 (86명탔어요).  나 이번대회 50%안에 타고싶어서 기븐 좋았어요, 나 옛날보다 자전거 많이 못타지만 전국챔피언쉽대회에서 아직 좀잘탈수있어요 ㅋㅋ. 

토요일오후에 나다운힐대회보고 친구들이랑 맥주한잔마셨어요.  일요일은 다시 인디에나로 8시간반동안운전하고집에왔어요.  이번주말에 시즌 마지막대회있어요.  아이스맨 산악마라톤.  2000명타는대회에요 그리고 내가 대학교때 같이 살았던 친구 다올거야서 너무 재미있을거같아요.  


Going up the ski hill to watch the downhill race with Max from the University of Wisconsin.  

Collegiate Mountain Biking 대학부산악자전거대회

Since I’m back in school at Indiana University  now.  I decided that my goal for this fall would be to qualify for an participate in Collegiate Mountain Nationals.  To do this I had to do at least 3 conference races and be one of the top 4 individuals not on a qualifying team which lucky for me ended up not being very hard.  I raced at Marian’s race weekend in Indianapolis and again at Lindsey Wilson in Kentucky last weekend and now that regionals are over it looks like I can go to Nationals in two weeks in North Carolina. 

The racing scene in the Midwest Collegiate Cycling Conference has definitely changed over the 4 years since I graduated from Purdue.  Its not dominated by 4 teams that have varsity programs and barely anyone from other schools raced including Purdue which is kind of unfortunate.  I’m also the only rider from IU who raced mountain bikes and so I’m the only one going to nationals.  The level of riders has also increased with Marian, Lindenwood, and Ripon now fielding lots of really strong riders.  Lindsey Wilson has plenty of fast riders like they always have. 

The 4 races I participated in didn’t go as well as I had hoped they would but since I have the week of Nationals off from school I figure I might as well go give it my best shot.  I placed in the top 20 at each race but I never cracked the top ten.  I’ve got in some big rides this past weekend though so hopefully I will be in better form for nationals.  Here are a few pics of some of my races. 

나 여즘대학부대회타고있어요.  나 지금 인디엔나대학교경영전문대학원다니가있어서 탈수있어요.  미국에 대학부 모두대학생들탈수있어요.  이번가울에 내자전거 골 전국대학부산악자전거대회 qualify하고싶었어요.  그래서 4번 인디에나근쳐에 대학부대회탔어요.  근데 내가학교다닐때보다 좀달랐어요.  여즘 미국중부에서 장학금주는학교좀많아졌다.  그래서 너무 잘타는에들좀많아요. 근데 나 매대회20등안에탈수있었어요.  나하고싶은만큼못탔지만 전국대회 탈수있어요.  

2주후에 나 노스케로라이나 에서 전국대학부탈거에요.  그때까지 열심히훈련 할거에요.  거기서 레이스 두개있어요 산악크라이테리엄이랑 크로스컨트리.  다운힐도있지만 나 자전거없어요!  여기및에 내대회사진몇개있어요! 

Riding, Riding, Riding! 라이딩,라이딩,라이딩!

2 weeks ago I arrived in California to visit my parent in Santa Barbara.  It turns out that this is one of the best, if not the best, place to ride bikes I have ever been.  During my visit I went out for several road rides with my dad and even got to go for one with an old teammate of mine from Purdue, Stephen.  The weather was sunny and 75F every day which was basically perfect for riding.  The days I didn’t road ride I did some epic mountain bike rides. 

Behind Santa Barbara is a huge mountain ridge with a road going to the top of it (7 miles with a 10% average grade).  It’s a pretty painful climb but the riding and the view of the ocean on the top of the ridge is definitely worth it.  I road my mountain bike to the top a few times as well and each ride I got to go down a different single track trail to the bottom.  The trails were super technical but I definitely got some of my skills back that I will need to race mountain bikes this fall. 

In the middle of my time in California I went to Indiana for a few days to go to Jae and Rachel’s wedding.  I was a grooms man and had a great time (but it wasn’t so great for my training). 

After returning to Santa Barbara from the wedding I did some more riding and then my friend Niu Niu came to visit with her friend Charles.  We did a surfing lesson and went for an awesome hike. 

Unfortunately my time in California is over and I’m now in the middle of a cross country road trip to Bloomington, IN.  Right now I’m staying at my friend Joey’s house.  We raced together at Purdue and Joey moved down here to Tuscon after graduating.  The weather is super hot but I’m looking forward to doing some great rides here.  Tomorrow we are doing a 40+km climb from 2000ft elevation to 9,000ft!

나2주뒤에미국왔어요.  부머님이캘리포니아에서살고있어서 캘리포니아산타바브라로갔어요.  지금 부머님이있는거  내가살는것이중에자전거타고한태최고이였어요.  집에서 자전거10분타면 바다옆에탈수있고 집뒤에 15분타면 15키로 산얼어가는길있어요 그길얼어가면 내려가는 싱글 8-10키로자리 10개이상있어요!  그래서 매일 자전거타고 놀았어요. 찐자어려운싱글많이타고 좋으도로도많이탔고. 우리 아버지도 싸이클좋해서 같이 많이탔어요.   날씨도최고에요 매일 20도그리고 썬니!  

켈리포니아시간중간에 나 인디엔나갔다왔어요 왜냐하면 친구결혼식있어서.  나 그룸스맨이여서 좀재미있었어요그리고 미국결혼식끈나고 큰파티하니까 너무재미겟놀다왔어요.  

결혼식끝나고 내친구두명캘리포니아왔어요.  이친구들이랑 서핑수업받았어요.  서핑너무재미있어요!!  서핑하고등산하고  산타바바라시내에서 놀았어요.  

이제 내캘리포니아시간끝이에요 나대학원으로가야해요.  근데인디엔나너무멀어요 4000키로정도 캘리포니아에서.  나 지금 Road Trip하는중이야  월요일에 8시간동안 운전하고 투싼 엘리조나왔어요.  내대학교친구 조이  여기살고있어요.  조이도 자전거 대회너무좋아해서 우리 매일 자전거 타고놀거같아요!  목요일에 나도 운전하고 뉴맥시코주로가야해요!  

 This was my view most of the drive to Arizona.  엘리조나가는길에 아무것없다!

 In front of my parent house before embarking for Indiana.  인디에나가기전에 부머님집앞사진.

 My dad and I did some nice rides together while I was in Santa Barbara. 우리아버지랑 자전거 많이탔어요.  여기내자전거랑우리아버지자전거.

 View of the ocean while riding at the top of the big ridge behind Santa Barbara.  산타바바라뒤에있는령정상! 대박아름다웠어요!!

 

Tons of sweet single track in Santa Barbara too.  I see why people buy trail bikes with 6+ inches of travel now out here.  산타바파라에서 재미있는싱글너무 많아그래서 여기살은사람들 다 다울힐바이크같은거타요.