TJ Woodruff ONLINE

I’m in Premanon, France volunteering as a subject for a live high, train low altitude research study for the next eight weeks.   Travels here went smoothly and now it’s just a matter of adjusting the body clock to the nine hour time difference from Tucson.   Having been in town for just a little over 24 hours I’m still getting a feel for things.  So far, the riding has been great, the weather cool and a little wet, accommodations comfortable, and the food plentiful and healthy.  It’s a good thing to like cheese since it’s a part of every meal in some fashion, some of it coming from local cows apparently.  With meals prepared and little or no other responsibilities aside from normal training and regular testing,  most days will be relaxed and I’ll have plenty opportunity to do most things as normal, coaching included of course.  With just over 20 of  us ’subjects’ staying here it feels a little bit like college only without the classroom part.  Some riders are taking online college courses, a few others do coaching, and some are simply here to hang out when not on the bike. Overall it seems to be a good mix of people and personalities from all over the map.

A schedule for our testing is soon to be posted so that will be helpful in knowing when to plan what types of training so that there’s little or no conflict between the two.  I might be on schedule for a VO2Max test tomorrow afternoon so that ought to be a good way to start off the testing (plenty intense, but also one of the few tests we’ll do that doesn’t involve needles).

Today’s ride was just over 70k which included great views and a couple of long climbs done at tempo pace.  Here are the first of hopefully many pictures I’ll be posting during my stay.  Ciao,  -TJ

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BIG bike

Tunnel en route to Saint-Claude

Ore to Shore was a big race on the radar and I thought about it often while training, especially during last month after completing US MTB Nationals.  I had some personal best early season races, Nationals went great, and I knew that at Ore to Shore could be a chance to fight for a big win.  Fortunately the race went very well and I was able to find the finish line first!  There are always nervous moments during a race where mishap can happen, and Saturday had its fair share early on, but I was able to keep near the front and let the course make its natural selection once the terrain becomes more challenging.  There’s a sense of comfort felt when the race comes down to six or seven guys versus the chaos of the larger pack.

The intensity would spike with each climb and as the trail got more challenging we’d only go harder, but I was able to recover adequately from these surges all the while.  During the final ten miles the pace kept consistently harder as we all tested each other.  Simonson was able to get a gap on us, but since we were cooperating well to chase it was more urgency and not so much panic.  The effort required for this regrouping was big and being close to the finish I wasn’t sure what everybody would have left in the tank.

It’s rare to finish with so many guys so I made sure to keep at the front on the pavement.  We weren’t going hard and the crosswind off the lake meant that I wasn’t giving up too much of a draft.  From here I knew that I could respond to whatever attack might come and counter off of it.  Nathan jumped first and we immediately had a gap so it was time to commit to the effort and not think twice. The last minute or so of the race was pure ‘in the zone’ and I was simply doing it with no conscious effort.  I led around the big sweeping left hander towards the finish with a clear shot at the line.  I had just enough time to do a quick check over the shoulder and put the arms up in what was certainly the most exciting finish to a race that I’ve ever experienced.  Tristan was right there and six of us finished within three seconds.  To come out ahead when six guys are so closely matched was incredible.  I’ve got a lot of respect for that group and to have won means an awful lot.

A lot of things go into a ride like this and it wouldn’t be possible without a ton of support. Dave Wert and the crew at Trek Bikes of Boulder have provided fantastic support this season.  The Superfly is unquestionably the perfect bike for this race course.  Having family and friends involved not only meant practical things such as having a house to stay in near the finish, loaner Edge Composite race wheels to use, and cold water bottles handed to me along the course, but most importantly we were able to share the excitement before, during, and after the finish.   All the time and energy that goes into racing and training would never be worth it if it weren’t for the people you get to share the experiences with along the way.  Inspiration comes from a lot of places and every day the athletes of Momentum Endurance encourage me to keep doing best with the opportunities that I’ve got.  I’m fortunate to have a dream job and the experiences that come with it.

I’m finally headed home to Tucson after what has been a fantastic 2010 season.  I’ll have a couple weeks to relax before starting up the next adventure.  More details on this to come so keep tuned.   Thanks!

-TJ

It’s been some time away from the blog, but if anything since the last post has been especially ‘blog-worthy’ it has got to be the WORS Subaru Cup ProXCT weekend.  It was a race that I really looked forward to and it certainly turned out to be a memorable experience since it’s not every weekend that you get to race against North America’s best while having all the local fans out there willing you on with their cheers.  Not that there’s a home-court advantage in mtb racing, but I was certainly a little extra motivated for this one.

Having raced Mt Morris the past three years I had a good understanding of the course and what to expect.  This time around the competition would be much more so accordingly the short punchy climbs became all that much more critical.  Being that the race was six laps with a fair amount of vertical there was little opportunity for recovery.  Exactly my favorite kind of course to race on!

The number 40 plate made for a mediocre call up position, but in a matter of  just 30 seconds or so I was able to maneuver up to 15^th or thereabouts as we crested the initial climb.  Definitely one of the better starts I’ve had and it put me in the mix right from the beginning.  Lap one was fast but manageable and during the second lap came the challenge to somehow recover from the start while settling in and not backing off the pace too much.  I was able to manage this alright and sought to keep steady lap times.  Much of the race I went back and forth with Tristan who was riding the main climb a litter faster while I was able to lead for most of the decending and  punchy uphill stuff.  By the time lap five came around the heat/humidity was getting too me and I gave up a little bit of ground as a matter of self preservation.  The final two laps were a delicate balancing act of not overheating (any more than I already had) while trying to maintain position.  I ended up losing a couple of spot before the finish, but 18^th on the day was still a great ride and something that I felt happy with.

2010 has been a strong(er) season thus far and I hope to continue the trend.  The Trek Bike Store in Boulder has helped out a bunch with the Superfly 100, a race bike that I’m really loving.  It’s not only fast, but also a lot of fun to ride.  The Bontrager tire crew stepped in big time to help get me setup for the conditions so a big thanks to them for the help.   WORS put on a top-notch event just as I knew they would.  Having a pro race come to WI was a long time in the making and it was awesome to be a part of the action.  Hopefully it was just the start of what will become many more pro level events in WI.  WORS is a great group of people that make racing fun and exciting, so thanks again for making the ProXCT happen.

Up next will be the UCI stage race in Colorado Springs which serves as the proxct series finals July 9-11.  That weekend ought to be a good tune up for the National Championships which are just one week later at Sol Vista, CO.  I’ll be better acclimated and ready to give it a good run this year so I’m looking forward to challenge.

Got things started right with a win at the Tour of the White Mountains. The 60 mile MTB race was the longest I’ve ever done and it turned out to be a great time. The course was super rugged, one of the rockiest that I’ve ever raced on. Held near Show Low, AZ at a base of 6500 feet it was awesome to race in the pines and enjoy some fall-like temps. With one final MTB now out of my system I can go back to refocusing on cyclocross. This season is shaping up to be great, thanks in part to the support of my CX team, Pioneer Racing.

13th place in my 13th Chequamegon weekend.  It was a good day, but certainly not a great performance on my part. I was close, but not 100% on top of my game out there. The racing was fast and I found myself on the receiving end rather than the serving end of race. A bulk of the day was spent trading pulls as a group of us were going from on the back of the front group to chasing the front group.  We were all together at the base of fire tower but 12 guys got over faster than me  so the last 10 miles were spent riding solo to the finish. Certainly not a ‘bad’ day, but sort of frustrating to miss out on the racing those final 10 miles. As always it was awesome to have so many family and friends at the race. A big thanks to everyone who makes Chequamegon all that it is!

Up next will be a transition into CX racing with the USGP races in Sun Prairie this weekend. It’ll be the biggest CX stage I’ve raced on so letting it rip ought to be the natural thing to do.  See you there, -TJ

https://www.usacycling.org/rankings/index.php?org=mountain&disc=xc&cat=PR&msj=SR

All systems go for Saturday! See you at the starting line. -TJ

(USAC’s ranking system is a bit fuzzy, I’ll be the first to admit, but there’s certainly some novelty with it…)

this photo and more: skinnyski.com

PRESS.

Labor Day weekend at Maplelag couldn’t have been much better. As usual it was two and a half days chocked full of good friends, food and accommodations.  We did a little bit of bike racing too, but what makes this weekend great is package experience that other races have a hard time offering. The bunk houses and dining hall make it a unique Maplelag experience. It was cool that my dad joined in on the trip and was able to do ‘support crew’ for me too.

Saturday’s morning Time Trial is always a tough opener. It’s short, but at the same time long enough that some pacing has to be exercised.  I was the first rider on course and came in with a new course record.  I felt good with the ride but wasn’t sure how it would stack up. Brendan did the course one second faster to claim the stage win and the new course record at 9:36.  Each of the past three years he’s narrowly edged me out like this so it’s crazy to think how close we’re matching each other. Doug was 3rd just a couple seconds back. In comparing our gps files neither of us was ever more or less than a couple seconds ahead or behind at any given spot on the course.

The afternoon STXC was fast and tactical near the end. The pace kept mostly honest and I did some work to keep it that way. Brendan made some charges and 18 year old Jack Hinkins was in on the action at the front end of the race.  On the last lap Doug went wide around the fast grass sweeper turn that led into the super steep climb. We came into the base together but he carried more speed to the top and got by.  With tight corners from here to the finish there wasn’t much real estate left for passing. Luckily I kept things upright and held on for second after nearly rolling/burping my rear tire in the last corner.

Going 1-2-3, then 3-2-1 in the two stages, we all had equal amounts of time bonuses so the GC would ultimately be determined by the XC on Sunday. With the race slated to be 3.5 laps it was sure to be a physically tough course. The tight rooted trails require a constant focus while the ski trails beg for speed.  Early on all three of us were in the lead group, but eventually Doug was exchanged for Sam O. After the half lap and first full lap I was doing alright but for some reason found myself getting dropped on the second full lap. I could no longer see Sam or Brendan, but I kept charging knowing that the last lap could make all of the difference. While chasing I even managed to take a good spill over the bars. Putting the adrenaline to good use I got back to chasing and eventually went by Sam.  Brendan wasn’t far up the trail and I was gaining time.  In what was perfect timing I caught him right at the base of Suicide hill and figured that would a good place to really go for it. By the top of the climb 35 seconds later I had a gap and was able to maintain it the rest of the lap all the way to the finish.  It was scrappy, but a great feeling to get the win while securing the overall at the same time.

Some interesting tech notes from the weekend: I ran the Marathon 29er Hardtail and found it well suited for the terrain although I’d love to try a full suspension 29er on those trails for the XC.  A Stans Raven was the rear tire of choice with a Kenda Small Block 8 up front.  Minimal tread, but over the long haul they proved to do the job.  While cleaning/lubing my chain the morning of the xc I discovered a broken roller. Luckily I was able to remove this link and use a second quick link in its place.  It undoubtedly would have broken in the XC so I was lucky to have spotted it (and finished the STXC with it).  I’ve never seen a roller break on a chain like this before… I severed the rear derailleur cable ferrule in the crash and didn’t shift very much during the final lap since the shifting was all over the place when I tried.  I used just a couple gears in the back and shifted more with the front in order to keep going without mishap. Also I snapped off one of my beloved Easton EC90 bar-ends in the crash.  So for now I will forgo bar-ends with just Chequamegon left on the radar…   See you there!  -TJ

Thanks to Tom Gaier and his team of volunteers for putting on an excellent edition of the Pre-Fat race. He’s got an amazing race going on in Seeley and this year more people than ever before turned out to experience it first hand.   I was able to successfully defend my ‘08 win after battling all day long with Jeff Hall. Last year I rode in solo, so to have it come to a sprint was awesome.  Nervous, but awesome.

PRE FAT PRESS

Shortly after the race and a whirlwind of unpacking, packing and bike washing I was en route to Green Bay in Muraski’s big rig.  Four and a half hours in a vehicle is great recovery right? At least I was fortunate enough to lounge in the back seat while Mark crushed the drive, nearly doing in one shot with only a dinner stop along the way.  With some nice Adeventure212 accommodations and a good nights sleep it was game time for the 11:30 wors start.

Fifth place on the day was alright considering the circumstances. I was comfy for the first 2.5 of 3 laps and really it was only the last 20-30 minutes where it was crunch time for our lead group of seven. Brian and Jesse got off the front while I got caught out with Mark and Chris. With heavy legs, a too narrow finish chute, and lap traffic in the way I sat up to roll across while Chris and Mark did the sprint for third. It was close between those of us in the front group and I’m confident with how things are shaping up for the rest of the month.

At just 16 days away Chequamegon will be here before we know it. And for those of you that need to know, Miss Pronouncer can help you.  Next up is Maplelag – one my favorite race weekends of the year.  See you there, -TJ

With September nearly here it’s the eve of my favorite season for MTB racing.  Not sure what it is about the month of September, but it’s fantastic for racing bikes with other fast guys.  In what has become somewhat of a tradition, I’ll be doing the double-header this weekend with the Seeley Pre Fat on Saturday followed up with the WORS Reforestation Ramble on Sunday.  Since a similar Chequamegon build up has worked in recent years, I might as well stick with it. Really I just love to ride fast and choosing between races is often too challenging so I figure why not just go fast two times in one weekend?

It’s a combination of the venues, the history, and the weather that make September racing all that it is, but really without the tight competition these ‘races’ would simply be rides. The mix of racer personalities and generous promoters make these experiences possible and also addictive.  Thanks to everyone who helps make it possible. See you at the races, -TJ

skinnyski.com captures the action

Yes, I realize it was nearly two weeks ago, but I might as well throw out a couple lines to reminisce about the River Falls WORS vs. MNSCS race. It was really fast from the start, probably one of the most intense starts of the year with the hill climb there serving up plenty of lactic euphoria. It didn’t take long for a lead group of five to establish on the first lap. Marko, Jesse, Brendan, Mikey, and Myself all exchanged turns at the front but the speed and tightness of the course meant that getting away from the bunch was more of a challenge. Patience worked out well and on the last lap I was able to let loose up the climb with only Marko in tow.  Exchanging the lead in and out of singletrack he drew the right card and led into the final stretches of singletrack. It was close and we were both riding fast, but he got the best of the finish line. I was pumped to have raced a good battle even though a close second place never sits too well. Looking forward to more racing soon to come. And plenty of it!

CyclingDirt.org recaps the race in full detail

TJ