Aaron Pool

2009-11-05T20:59:00.002-06:00

More gravel, and sunshine. Is this really November? Its as if daylight-savings time took the calendar back a month instead of an hour.

As they say in Belgium, "steal the weather." Saturday is looking up too.

rest day

2009-11-04T17:46:00.003-06:00

No ride today. Bike needs a rest day. Bikes need those. It sure is nice out though.

2009-11-03T19:21:00.001-06:00

Today the clouds opened in the middle of my ride,

creating some interesting contrast.

back on

2009-10-31T17:59:00.003-05:00

Winter training will not be televised.
But it will be camera phoned, if phoned can be a verb indicating the taking of pictures.
First day back on the bike today, scary, Halloween.
The previous few days were spent getting the gravel machine in working order. Plenty of gravel roads to explore north of Lincoln. Mid terms are almost through, and the forecast for the next week looks like September. The plan is to set a solid base through the winter, get closer to graduation and go to school in the spring then hit the Belgian racing circuit again in May.
So if you're riding around Lincoln, NE gravel, dirt or pavement, I'll soon be seeing you.

2009-10-11T11:44:00.000-05:00

Yesterday saw the first snow fall of the year, and the calendar has just made its way into October. Given the impact of El Nino on this winter’s forecast, this month should continue on this weather trend, but the rest of the winter should hold warmer and drier than average. These indications suite my off-season well, though I ought to remember that should does not mean will.

When it is time to get back on the bike I’ll likely build my cross bike back up, not to cross race, but because gravel opportunities are simply too numerous. Also, riding on loose terrain helps maintain a fresh pedal stroke, and hones handling skill. The cross bike will also prevent me from taking the road bike off road which though fun, is unneeded wear to race equipment.

2009-09-24T16:35:00.000-05:00

The first round of exams for fall semester is over, so I officially have a moment.

This season finished informally ended August 23rd, the weekend I flew back from Belgium to the Sates prior to the Monday I started school. Formally the season will end when September becomes October. I will have October off and then pick the wheels up again in November.

Success came for me this year. I made more progress in 09 then in combined previous couple years. This I attribute towards gains in my understanding of nutrition and the importance of training quality versus quantity.

Specifically I made big improvement in climbing and time trialing with strong riding in the mountainous Tour de la Province Liege, and two top 20 performances in two separate stage race time trials; Ronde van Antwerp, and Ronde van Vlaams Brabant which immediately followed Tour de Liege.

My overall fitness/capacity improved as well, also on a much steeper curve. This summer I was able to actually play a part determining some race outcomes.

The year started with a bang, a couple wins, strong at Tour of the Gila, then strong fresh off the plane in Tour de la Manche with 12 overall.

Condition continued in Laarne 10th, in Bertem 3rd, Liege as lead domestique, Vlaams Brabant in the time trial, and in the Tour of Antwerp time trial. A crash in the final day of Antwerp prevented me from finishing and keeping 10th overall. Naturally I always want more, but I am still proud and fortunate.

Now facing the off-season I am left with a few opportunities for next year which makes the uncertainty typical of the autumn months easier. At the same time school which is also on my mind is close to its finishing stretch as I anticipate finishing my bachelors in economics in the fall of 2010.

It was a solid season, and a noticeable increase in my growth curve which I do intend to improve upon for next season. In a fitting signature to 2009 I was able to help out at a few local races here in Nebraska after my arrival back, a refreshing experience I enjoyed.

This fall I plan to take it easy by means of reading and writing for my classes. I also am planning a few more volunteering events. Besides that if I don’t see you before November Happy Halloween, but afterwards I expect to see you all on the roads.

update

2009-08-12T05:50:00.002-05:00

The stage racing saw my form improve with each consequetive day which was promissing though I was unable to get anything going in the last two days of Vlaams Brabant.

A week or so later I did a race near Roeselare, Belgium, followed the right wheels, stayed away with a group of eight for most of it, and then made a wrong move in the final to finish 6th.

Around a week following, Ronde van Antwerp began. I finished 15 seconds down in the 5 km prologue, nearly sliding out in a corner. Then I rode myself into the winning splits each day to keep myself at 10th overall into the final day. On the last stage I came into the local laps with the peloton intact, and went down in a crash. Picked myself up and looked for the team car for my spare bike, but by the time the car could get to me the race was well up the road. The race would pull me from contention at the start finish.

Today I have a race in a town not 7 km away.

Saturday I have another single day race.

Tuesday I have my last race in Belgium for the season, and I fly to the U.S. on Friday, August 21st to start school Monday.

stage race update

2009-07-25T01:50:00.004-05:00

Day 9 of racing, yesterday I was 17th of 170 riders in the 11 km time trial, 20-30 seconds off pace. It was windy, and I was nearly blown off the road several times. This bumps me up in the GC to 28th.

The day before the time trial was the 2nd road stage, Stage Race Vlaams Brabant, which I made the winning split of 15 riders though I later got a flat tire and was left to go back to the peloton. I would lost 23 seconds on the day.

Dispite luck and wind, objective is to gain time for these remaining two road stages, ride into splits and breakaways then go for stage finishes. My base fitness is good enough this year for me to improve during stage racing, the TT shows this, which my legs have been feeling better and better each consequetive day. The last stage is tomorrow, Sunday, will be 10 days racing.

Afterwards, I have a week before Renninglest UCI 1.2, then the Tour of Antwerp 2.12, followed by Wervik UCI 1.12 August 18th, then I'll be flying back to the US for school and possibly the Univest Grand Prix UCI 1.2 in early September.

Slainte

end Tour Liege, start Vlaams Brabant

2009-07-22T01:47:00.002-05:00

Yesterday I finished the 5 day Tour of Liege UCI 2.12 riding team member Peter Horn to 4th overall.

My race was mixed as domestique and 2nd placed rider on the team, spending most stages in breakaways or chasing them down, to finish well myself on the final and heaviest climbing day.
Congrats to the team.

Today I start the 5 day Vlaams Brabant UCI 2.12, hilly stage one. Updates to follow each day, race ends this Sunday.

update

2009-07-09T11:20:00.004-05:00

Short run is UCI 1.12 Pittem this Saturday, then the five day UCI 2.12 Tour de la Province Liege http://www.tpliege.be/ starting Thursday next week July 17th, then the five day UCI 2.12 Ronde van Vlaams Brabant starting the day after Liege ends, making ten days of stage racing in eleven days, a long week and sentence.

post 4th of July post

2009-07-06T01:24:00.002-05:00

Happy Independence Day

Het Volk was unsubstantial; form was compromised from the fall at Romsée. The legs were firing well on the climbs, but my top end was at top end. Lined up for the field sprint, and got stuck on the outside of a turn in the last 700 meters.

A three day training camp in the German/French speaking Ardennes just finished. Practice spinning up the steep climbs will serve well at the Tour de Liege beginning July 17th, around one week from now.

The short run calls for a Tour of Flanders style UCI race this Saturday in Pittem as a prep for Liege followed with the Tour de Liege the 17th possibly with the Ronde Van Vlaams Brabant beginning the day after, both UCI 2.12's and 5 days long.

The day after Vlaams I fly direct to Salt Lake to train at altitude in prep for the Tour of Utah, though still tentative for the team.

coming up

2009-06-25T12:56:00.002-05:00

UCI 1.12 Het Volk this Saturday the 27th, flanders style cobbled and paved climbs.

Recap of Romsée-Stavelot-Romsée, began well bridging to the breakaway on the first, but went down in a crash shortly afterword, bike was fine and I rejoined the front of the peloton on the descent. Covered the second climb in the front 10, the third climb as well, but got my front wheel tangled we formed the front eschelon over the top. A slow wheel change ensued as many small groups rolled past. A teamate gave me his wheel but the race was gone.

Podium photos; Bertem

2009-06-22T06:13:00.001-05:00

Bertem UCI 1.12 report

2009-06-21T14:47:00.003-05:00

3rd place.

176 starters, and 156 km of steep rolling hills.

Around 90 kilometers into the race, I went with a small group to catch the breakaway which we did shortly.

At about 30 km remaining, I went clear with 5 others, and together we stayed away. Then with 7 km to go two riders took off solo, one then the other. I mixed around with the three still with me, and got them to chase together to bring back one of the two riders. The leader stayed away, clearly stronger then the rest. I positioned myself in the field sprint, and held for 3rd place, 2nd of my group of 4.

Romsée-Stavalot-Romsée is Tuesday for me. Het Volk is next Saturday for me.
Slainte

coming up

2009-06-19T05:50:00.002-05:00

UCI 1.12 this Sunday, June 21st in Bertem, Belgium.
160 - 170 km single day race, hilly.

UCI 1.2 this Tuesday, June 23rd, Romsée-Stavalot-Romsée, Belgium.
Single day, Liege-Bastogne-Liege style race.

UCI 1.2 next Saturday, June 27th, Het Volk, in Belgium.
Single day, classic Flanders style race.

UCI 1.12 Moresele

2009-06-14T01:42:00.000-05:00

I ended up 15th yesterday in a 70 rider field sprint remnants of 192 starters covering 166 km, bright and sunny day with little wind and warm temps.

Decided to ride the breakaway to hedge my bets, and went with 19 riders within the first 14 km. We stayed clear with maximum 2 minutes, but were caught with 65 km remaining.

The remaining peloton went to the line in bunch sprint. I had a clear line on the left with 400 meters, but it was too early.

The next race is next Sunday, June 21

Laarne

2009-06-03T12:00:00.001-05:00

In the local laps, turning off of the finishing stretch. This photo was around 130 km in the race with 40 km still to go. Here I'm contemplating on which of the 5 laps remaining we will catch the escape, didn't happen.

The bike I am on is the Fuji SL, very lightweight and yet very strong. After several races plus a stage race, I cannot find a single fault in the bike. A good fit helps, but if it can handle cobbles and the racing here then it's good enough for me. The SRAM Force group is new issue to me for the year, but the same group I raced last year. Shifting is responsive, braking is powerful, cranks are stiff, all I want and need.

The pair of white dashed lines on the road mark a bike lane, while the raised pavement lined with cobble stones is another bike lane. Bike lanes and paths like these are constant and everywhere in Belgium.

Laarne report

2009-06-01T12:46:00.002-05:00

10th on the day, 172 starters and 164 kilometers.

Was with a lead group of 30 entering the finishing circuit, still 40 km to go. Group of 4 went with no favorites, and then another group of 4 went with no favorites which I should have gone with them since I don't think I was a favorite. I guess I didn't get the memo.

The two groups of 4 joined to make an 8 man group, and I was in the second group with about 20 left. Still 30 km to go of finishing laps and the gap was close at 30 seconds. My group wasn't letting anyone else get away and still had the supposed top riders in it. I was counting on us bringing back the group. The last lap comes and the gap is still there as no concerted chase had been made. I then jumped clear with 2 km to go and another went with me. He was ahead of me at the line, but we stayed away making 10th place for me.

Next up is the UCI 1.2 Wavre this Sunday.
Slainte

coming up

2009-05-30T10:38:00.002-05:00

Zondag 31/05/2009, I will be racing a UCI 1.12 in Laarne, BE. The G.P.Etienne Dewilde Laarne Interclub is known for it's Ronde van Vlaanderen style, short steep cobbled climbs before a number of local laps.

Zondag 07/06/2009, I am scheduled for a UCI 1.2 in Wavre, BE. The Memorial Philippe Van Coningsloo Topcomp is maybe more refined, point to point with zonder cobbles until the local laps, but there is a 1 kilometer cobble section in each local ronde.

In the past days I did a couple local races and an LT test. I won some money in the kermis, and the test showed I'm in condition right on schedule.

Tour de la Manche results

2009-05-18T03:59:00.005-05:00

Stage 1

Only 3 days after I walked off the plane and crossing the Atlantic, I jumped into a breakaway at kilometer 5 of 16 riders on a small road in Normandy, France. Later 3 riders bridged in the middle of the race. The group split over some rollers around 120 kilometers in the race as we came near the local laps. In the local laps small groups reformed from the original group and I was with 7 other riders in the finish, 18th on the day.

Stage 2

We had cold rain for first 50 kilometers. The raace split apart from extreme cross winds along the road that passes Utah Beach, which was at kilometer 60. A group of 20 formed the first echelon and later went to the finish. Three riders had been up the road all day held us off after dropping several of their compatriots. I was 19th on the day.

Stage 3

Time trial of 16 kilometers over rolling hills was windy, 22nd on the day.

Stage 4

Sprint finish through single lane twisty town streets with sharp stone walls directly flanking both sides of the street. David Nelson and myself were just not able to get a lead out together before the line, 12th on the day.

Stage 5

I followed the leader, funny but true, until the right time to strike which didn’t come until the local laps. This was my last chance to crack into the top 10, one of my teams goals. The second goal was a stage win which was basically what the first goal involved, getting me across the line as high up as possible. The last goal was to maintain our team GC standing. On the second of 5 laps with one rider already up the road I struck but was brought back after nearly two laps when a second rider countered me. Then with a lap to go I struck a second time creating a selection of 4 including the yellow jersey. This group would go with me to the finish where they would subsequently outsprint me, 7th on the day and 12th overall with 4th place team.

Stage 1 18th
Stage 2 19th
Stage 3 22nd
Stage 4 12th
Stage 5 7th

Overall 12th

4th place team

Up next is the GP CRIQUEILION UCI 1.12 Sunday May 24th, 174 km of rolling hills. Then it will be Laarne UCI 1.12 the Sunday afterward.

On another note, Nebraska has the second lowest unemployment rate in the country at 4.4%, just behind North Dakota. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124300070987247341.html#mod=testMod
Cheers

Belgium Landing

2009-05-10T02:58:00.003-05:00

Arrived in Belgium yesterday, but still can't remember when. The weather is sunny which is a nice welcoming. The last race was the Tour of Gila, which thank you again to the promoter Mr. Brennan as it was a very nice race well done, and the next race will be the Tour de la Manche in Normandy, France starting the 14th ending the 17th with a link to the race webpage to the left. After that it is tentative, but I'll update as soon as news passes.

My first day I was issued a new team bike, the Fuji SL. Notes so far it is as light as they come, does not flex, and is more nimble then the Fuji Team edition I was on the previous year. Thank you is now in order to nice people at Fuji and so far nothing but good remarks for their SL. Sram has Force issued on the frame which is a generation newer then the Force group of the Fuji Team I raced last year. It is the most race suitable group to the Fuji SL in my regard as though it is not Sram Red. Force is what I am accustomed. Force races better the Dura-ace in my opinion, and I must tip my hat to the folks at Sram as well. Notes to come on further critiquing.

Business here is racing however, and that will come in three days time, until then, goed dag.

Tour of the Gila

2009-05-04T18:39:00.001-05:00

A quick week and even faster racing, I can’t say that the Gila peloton was the best of the best, but a few were there. All in all a good season opener for me, 35th overall isn’t going to be written in any record books, but the knowledge and the race miles were well worth it.

The first day was flat with a mountain top finish of 5 miles length, average grade of roughly 12% including a few 15% plus pitches. Arrived at the base of the climb with good legs in the top 50, the race hit a plateau halfway up for around half a mile with stiff cross winds. I was not in good positioning here, and a front echelon led by Mellow Jonny’s separated from my echelon. The rest of the climb I spent picking riders off.

The second day was a pack finish, 80 miles of motor pacing.

The third day was the time trial, new TT bike thank you Joe McWilliams, but still feeling the altitude evidently the Missouri River valley doesn’t prep you well for the Rockies. A few steep down gradients made tough going with the 53, as I later discovered most had brought 55 or even 58 tooth rings, lesson here is simple when time trialing in the mountains coasting is not as fast as driving a gear.

The fourth day was a criterium in the afternoon, 40 miles of motor pacing, with 2 hours of zone 2 in the morning.

The fifth and final day was 170km, 3 mountains back to back to back with a climb to the finish. This was the first real mountain race I’ve done. I started the race with two bottles. At the first feed zone I took two more neutral bottles. At the third feed zone I noticed there were no neutral feeders, and team me had no there to feed me, so just keep pedaling. The first climb was fine, the pack crested together. The second climb Mellow Jonny’s decided it was time to ride tempo and split the race to pieces. I crested with four other riders. One rider took off on the descent, and on the third climb I had good legs so I rode off alone. I had good positioning at the base of the second climb and couldn’t have gone any faster, maybe with more acclimation to the altitude perhaps. Nevertheless spending the last 20-30 miles alone and climbing to the finish might have been faster with a companion or two.

I crossed the finish line 10 minutes behind the leaders, continued past the crowd of spectators, down to the highway, and continued pedaling the 15 miles back to town. Once at the house I quickly jumped in the shower and drove off to El Paso to catch a plane that would take off shortly after I arrived at the airport. I landed in Denver and my plane to Omaha landed at 1:30am this morning. I took the first of three final’s today this morning at 7:30 and finished the second this afternoon. At the moment I should be studying for my third final today in two hours time but I decided to update you all.

It was an interesting week, high class racing. Thank you to all that made this possible.

The next race might be the Circuit de Wellonie UCI 1.2 in Belgium in one week followed by the Tour de la Manche in France. This season just started.

Gila: prep

2009-04-27T10:35:00.001-05:00

I arrived in Albuquerque Saturday evening with enough time to spin the legs a little. Sunday, yesterday, I put in around 3 hours of zone two getting the muscles firing at altitude, and was lucky enough to have friend and renowned mechanic Matt Caruso of Albuquerque spend some time race prepping the bike. It is impressive to see what Matt can do with the bike on a stand. Now it is ready, I am ready, and the weather is ready, sunny and mild. The race will start with an 80-90 mile road race on Wednesday. Similar scenario for Thursday, time trial for Friday, criterium on Saturday, and 100 mile road race Sunday.

2009-04-22T09:56:00.001-05:00

Tour of Herman was a suprising venue. The Tour of Missouri went through there last year, and the terrain impressed so I'm told. There were steep climbs well placed in the race and many others to choose from that were both steeper and longer.
The crit was up and down one of these climbs with the finish situated at the top next to an old established vineyard.
The road race went through the same town, climbing out of town up a nearly 30% grade, not kidding. On the first of 3 thirty mile laps five of us took off. We worked well together. One rider dropped, and another broke his chain coming around to the second lap. On the second lap one of the two left with me was dropping off on the climbs but we kept him in contact. The one other strong rider with me took the final GPM with me on the wheel. On the flat into town I accelerated and went to the finish alone.

I would not hessitate to do this race again.

Tour of Herman

2009-04-20T14:00:00.002-05:00

The Tour of Herman was 3 stage ordeal, time trial, crit, and road race. Steep climbs, incessent rain, and 60 degree temps made it reminiscent of Belgium, Ronde Van Vlaanderen style.

The first day was the TT and the criterium. The second day was the road race which I managed to get across the line before the others allowing me to show my second victory salut of the season, pictured above alstublieft.

Next up is NRC stage race The Tour of the Gila, five days in Silver City, New Mexico which will be closely followed by the NRC Joe Martin stage race three days later, bon chance...