Scotts playing in the dirt

2011 Blog year in review

scotttietzel — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 23:36:49 +0000

The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2011 annual report for this blog.

Here’s an excerpt:

A San Francisco cable car holds 60 people. This blog was viewed about 2,100 times in 2011. If it were a cable car, it would take about 35 trips to carry that many people.

Click here to see the complete report.

Three in a row at Crankworx Winter Park!

scotttietzel — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 00:15:33 +0000

Perhaps the biggest race of the Winter Park Series is the Crankworx weekend. Why? well because its a full weekend of racing and events from high flying slopestyle competitions to bomber downhill runs. Crankworx Winter Park is one of only two major events like it around with the original Crankworx based in Whistler B.C. None of that jumping stuff is for me though so I opted for the cross country race instead and with some good money up for grabs there was a bit more incentive to go fast. Naturally this means that the race draws a more talented field and it was no different this year. I was familiar with the course after doing the race last year which had not gone all that well. This year would be different however. after the gun fired we had a very long stair stepping type of climb. The heavy favorite had to be JHK and no surprise he went to the front and set the pace. Feeling confident i grabbed his wheel and held on. After popping out on the service road after the first section we had three, JHK, Mitch Hoke and myself. We used our gap and my road skills to set a nice rotation and further pulled out some time. Starting the next section of the climb the road pitched up and the terrain became more rough. JHK upped the pace and Mitch came off, shortly after I was being left behind. It was at this point that the rest of the race became somewhat inconsequential. JHK disappeared into the woods as we crested the top of the course some 30 min into the race. I would never see him again as his lead slowly grew. Mitch was never far behind but never the less we never rejoined and over a hour later we all crossed the line in the same places. It was a super awesome course mixing some long hard climbing with technical downhills and fast twisty flowing bits. Perhaps better then the race was the awards ceremony. The three of us got to stand atop carved log pedestals and hoist up oversized cardboard checks and wooden trophies adorned with a real hatchet. A second place finish makes it three podiums in a row, great success!

Success in my first crack at the Leadville Trail 100

scotttietzel — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 20:40:19 +0000

Last November I went to the Paramount Theater in Denver to see the premier of the 2010 Race Across the Sky movie. Watching that movie stoked a fire burning inside of me. Being a road racer and accomplished mountain biker I knew that this was an event for me. After the movie my left leg (the one I broke just over a year earlier and with a full compliment of hardware still in my Tibia.) was more painful then any other day since I had been off crutches. I could hardly walk back to the car and even had to hold onto my mother to make it home. Almost exactly 10 months later and with my hardware removed I was lining up to do that very race I had vowed to do. A 6:30 am start makes for a rough morning, something I have done for only one other race before, the Maratona Dles Dolomites Gran Fondo in Italy back in 2005.

Having done the event before I only had some idea of what the day was going to be like because of a recon ride one week earlier with my teammate John Phillips (Team Rio Grande) and Ward Baker, a Leadville 100 legend in his own right having finished 8 times with several top 20 results. We did not see the entire course but keyed in on the most important sections, Columbine Mine and Powerline climbs. The day before the race I managed to get my race number and starting position changed from the first timer group 1800 numbers all the way to the front pens top 250, a move that completely changed my race. The neutral roll out of town was in typical UCI road race fashion with an aggressive, dodgy and very fast pace. Once we hit the dirt roads I began to move up and as we hit the first pitch on St Kevins climb I found myself right near the front following Tim Johnson’s wheel in about 8^th place. The pace was only moderately difficult but my stomach was not happy and I left my breakfast on the descent coming down to the pavement.

As we circled Turquoise Lake the group swelled to around 15 guys and we worked together to keep the leaders close. The group more or less stayed together over Sugarloaf pass and down Powerline to the long road/ dirt road drag across the valley. After passing through the Pipeline feed zone and with the group single file a few of the heavy hitters, Lakata and Bishop rode off the front. Passing through the Twin Lakes feed zone, which was the most chaotic feed zone I have ever seen my group was sitting top 15 as we approached Columbine Mine climb. Knowing the distance and altitude we would be reaching I kept the pace consistent and moderate while others pushed hard early then faded as we hit tree line at over 11,000 ft. Near the summit Todd Wells was the first to make the turnaround and descend down past as the high point came into view. The return trip down was very quick and uneventful even with two-way traffic and a constant stream of racers inching closer to the 50 mark. Back at the Twin Lakes feed zone I was isolated between groups as my racing mate Bryan Alders had to stop for a mechanical. Some cold bottles from my parents and I raced on riding the next 40 miles more or less solo with 5 guys up the road just in and out of view and another 3 behind chasing. I connected with Specialized support crew Jordi and Jeff for some life saving bottles then pressed onto Powerline. Over the last two hours of the race I would suffer from leg cramps as a result of my upset stomach and fact that I only ate 400 calories with of food for the full 7 hrs of racing. One dose of the super electrolyte The Right Stuff made a huge difference for me and combined with a coke bottle from Andy at the bottom of Powerline and I was in full hunting mode. I managed to ride the entire Powerline climb without putting a foot down and passed one of my rivals right near the summit. The last climb of the day up St Kevins, this time on pavement allowed me to catch two more riders although both men used their descending skills to pull away putting me back into 11^th place with just a few miles to go. The entire way into Leadville I could see the two in front of me but they were working very well together and I just could not catch them. One final roller and I was in the final stretch rolling over that beautiful red carpet and across the line. 11^th place overall at 6hrs 52 min and 1^st place in the 20-29 age group. An epic day of racing and a great result in my first attempt. My teammate John Phillips finished just behind me in 29^th place and a ripping time of 7 hrs 19 min. Sunday morning we both received our coveted gold and silver belt buckles for finishing in less than 9 hours. We both agreed that we would be back next year for another go.

Some exciting news about CX season

scotttietzel — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 01:36:15 +0000

Yep thats right there is going to be a new cyclocross team on the block for 2011 and Im going to be part of it. Plains to Peaks racing based here in Boulder Co will be tearing it up across Colorado with several national appearances at UCI events. Keep up on the team as it develops here and on the teams new blog site. Also be sure to check out Valmont Bike Park which will be hosting several races this fall including the Boulder Cup UCI event in October. http://bouldermountainbike.org/valmontbikepark

Bouncing back

scotttietzel — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 21:47:44 +0000

July 4^th meant another Firecracker 50 in the beautiful ski town of Breckenridge Co. This race has a special place in my heart because back kin 2009 I was just getting back into mountain bike racing and after a breakthrough ride I won the 19-29 National Championships. Last years race was a huge disappointment for me, part of a lack luster season. Several days up in Winter Park doing some training resting and a little altitude acclimating and I was feeling ready to rock. Things took a quick turn that night as I began feeling terrible. Not sure what I came down with but I hardly slept, had trouble getting any breakfast on race morning and my back was absolutely killing me. I had to give the race a go anyway. Up the first climb on Boreas pass I was doing all right and keeping the effort in check. I was riding 8^th place at the high point on the course then after passing race leader Peter Stetina who had flatted I suffered the same fate. A quick change and I was up and rolling but things were coming unraveled. I pushed through the second lap but only just. My back hurt so much I could hardly pedal and a few sections I just walked. I finished the race but well off the pace. Not a fun day for me but certainly character building.

Five days later and after almost zero training as I tried to rest and recover from the sickness and race effort I was lining up again this time at the Winter Park Series Valley Point to Point race. Up the first climb I quickly rode away from the main group with Bryan Alders and Kelly Magelky. We kept the pace high swapping pace making. I pushed hard on the faster dirt road sections and found myself out front with Bryan following close behind. It was a two man race at the top of Zoom. Bryan pulled away on the descents and I would pull him back on the pedal sections. Near the finish I came around a blind corner and ran into the back of Bryans bike. He had over cooked the corner and fell off the wooden bridge that spanned the creek bike and body half in the water. We both remounted and raced to the finish single file spinning our biggest gear. Without much warning we came around the final bend and into the finish shoot. Too narrow and quick to pass Bryan edged me by a mere .6 seconds. I was really happy to come full circle in such a short period of time and a second Winter Park Series podium was fantastic! My good racing buddy Kelly held on for third place to round out a great podium.

Back to the dirt on my new S Works Epic 29er

scotttietzel — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 04:34:56 +0000

After two big road trips Mt Hood and Nature Valley stage races and a 10 states in 20 days I was home for a week off the bike as summer was finally in full effect here in Boulder. After hitting the reset button on my body with massage work from my man Bobby Hills and several visits to Dr Boynton at North Boulder Chiropractic I was ready to climb aboard the bike again. This time I was switching back to fat tires and single track. The Winter Park Superloop race has always been one of my favorite races. This year I have a new S Works Epic 29er bike and after getting it all tuned up I was ready to break her in. Driving to Winter Park early Saturday morning my buddy Brian and I headed over Berthod Pass was we were treated to a very rare July avalanche as a cornice from the incredible winter snow accumulation broke off and raced down the snow field. It really was a beautiful morning at the resort and although I had no idea how my legs and bike would perform after some time off it was time to rumble. Up the famous first uphill service road drag and surprised I was feeling my oats and went straight to the front. As we approached the single track I had extracted a group of 5 and we kept of pressing on to extend our lead. We bombed the first descend swapped leads on the dirt and again on the technical sections and eventually Travis Macy, Kalan Beisel and myself pulled away and the race was on. Using my road racing leg speed I pulled Travis back on the long dirt road section and increased our gap. We hit the finally huge climb and Travis put the power down and simple rode away. I was suffering from my week off and near the top of the climb and ski mountain for that mater Kalan caught me. I did my best to hold on for the switchback descent knowing that he was a much better descender being a UCI pro mountain biker full time. I must admit that when it comes to racing mountain bikes my strengths lie in the road like fast pedal sections. As we neared the bottom I closed the gap on a dirt road section and kept on hard through the final singletrack section sprinting all the way to the line coming in a scant 10 seconds behind Kalan for 3rd place. After a terrible season in 2010 I am so happy to say that I am back on form in 2011. Im so happy to have come full circle after my leg break, a disaster of a season and a full recovery from getting the hardware removed. Thank you Specialized, Curve Inc., Breeze Bars, Boulder Center for Sports Medicine, The Right Stuff and Golden Tiger.

Spring time racing….go!

scotttietzel — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 21:39:53 +0000

Wow its been a whirlwind few months of being on the road, lots of racing and a few short weeks at home in between. Where do I even start? Well how about my first mountain bike races of the season, Sea Otter in Monterey California. First off what an incredible venue at the Laguna Seca Raceway. Its nestled way back in the green rolling hills outside of the Seaside area and after a lengthy drive you quickly descend down into the bowl where the track is located. Specialized was kind enough to have a demo bike for me to race on over the weekend so I didn’t have to fuss about with any equipment so when I arrived it was as easy as getting to the hotel to check in then a quick drive to the team compound. I got the bike dialed in a previewed the course with Todd Wells. Friday I raced the STXC and Saturday was the XC both Pro UCI events. Interestingly enough this was the very first UCI mountain bike events I have ever done. My race rig was awesome! 2011 S Works 29 hard tail and dang was that thing light and fast! With no UCI points I had my work cut out for me both days starting from the back. The STXC was stupid fast and short. Im use to a short criterium being 60 min. The STXC was 20 min plus 2 laps and with lap times being in the 1:40 range the field was nose to tail almost from the gun. I was caught up in the chaos on the first hill and after stomping as hard as I could the UCI officials pulled a huge group of us 11 min in. Ouch! A little Whole Foods dinner with the Specialized team that night and it was off to bed.

Saturdays XC was the main event and more to my liking with a non technical course using a fair amount of the actual paved race track. 150 mountain bikers on a road course fighting for the hole shot was nerve wracking. I used my road skills to move up and entered the dirt in great position, about top 15. from there its was a battle to hold wheels and keep pushing all out. I slipped back a bit not being use to such a short hard effort when we hit the steed sections and my single track skills were a little rusty. I found myself in a nice chase group with fellow Specialized rider and mountain bike hall of former Ned Overend. We worked well together to apply some road tactics on the paved sections and pull back guys just ahead. The race was 8 laps and on the third lap disaster struck. My bike was running tubes and I clipped the edge of the pavement on one of the dirt to track transitions and pinch flatted my rear wheel. I quickly figured out what had happened and started running with the bike frantically looking for a new rear wheel. Countless guys passed me as I went but finally I found a junior rider from the Specialized/ Whole Athlete team who was kind enough to give me a wheel swap. I was off and rolling again to the delight of spectators and over the course of the next few laps I was reeling in guys left and right. Eventually the UCI officials gave me the red paddle as I was too far behind eventual winner Todd Wells. Disappointed with the bad luck but happy to have done such a big race at an amazing cycling event. Post race I decided a bit of training was in order so I went out and rode the expert course, 24 miles of fire roads and single track in the rolling countryside. That night we had a big Specialized team dinner and it was off to bed.

Sunday was a free day since I wasn’t flying home till Monday. Todd Wells and I met up with a few of the Sho Air guys and we did the famous 17 mile drive loop around a little place called Pebble Beach. It was cool and foggy but a great ride. Perhaps a bit more “spirited” then Todd and I had in mind as the Sho Air guys were absolutely killing it the whole time. That afternoon I rode back to the race venue and cleaned up the bike to get it back to Morgan Hill HQ. Mondays return travel home turned out to be a much bigger deal then I had anticipated. Bad weather in San Francisco meant that my flight from Monterey was 2 hrs late so I missed my connection at SFO. While I was there we had a small earthquake. That was a first! and then I began to realize that my new flight to Sacramento was going to be late and I would miss the Denver connection again. Quick thinking got me a possible last seat on a new flight direct to Denver and a long run across the airport. I nabbed a new boarding pass and go the last flight back home. I was literally one seat away from spending the night in Sacramento a city that was not even on my travel itinerary. Got home to Boulder around midnight and the next even finally got my luggage that had been on the NorCal tour.

10 things retired athletes know that active ones don’t

scotttietzel — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 19:05:16 +0000

Being a competitive elite athlete is not a easy lifestyle. especially in a sport that does not have huge sponsor interest or a large fan base. Cycling even at the Pro Tour level is still run by former cyclist who have more passion about cycling then business sense. Its a rough game out there and sometimes good advice is much appreciated. My friend and former teammate on DLP Jered Gruber sent this article out and I though Ato make some very good points. Have a look.

Former world champion Ato Boldon posted on his twitter page a list of 10 sage pieces of advice for his fellow professional track and field athletes.

For posterity’s sake, Boldon was happy for AW to compile all 10 points here. “I put these out, not because I followed them all perfectly, not to preach, but because I didn’t in some cases,” said Boldon. “I had my time, maximize yours.”

10. Save some of all that free gear you constantly give away. It will end.

9. No one ever remembers the pain, but medals are forever. Push! No pro track athlete ever died from a workout. Post-career regret sucks.

8. No one from that shoe company you love so much loves you. Romance with no finance is a nuisance. The more in love you are, the less you make.

7. The competitors you think you hate so much now will be your friends when you are retired. Dont take it that seriously. Compete without hate.

6. Figure out what job you will do next, in early or mid-career, not post career. Few get to decide when they retire, most get forced out.

5. One day you’ll awake and won’t be fast anymore. Does your career define your whole life or existence? It shouldn’t! Have a life so you dont have to go get one after.

4. Make use of the best thing about being a track athlete – the travel. Years in exotic locales, but all you know is hotels and McDonald’s is pointless. Get outside, take pictures, learn something. Experience other lands.

3. Your career is infinitely more fun with a good training group. Choose your training group wisely. Chances are if you hate your career after, it’s because you hated your training partners, bounced around to several, or had none.

2. Europe can be wild and crazy and fun… and it can also shorten your career drastically if you are incapable of not acting a damn fool there. Euro “wine and men/women” have prematurely ended many a promising career.

1. Save your money like your life depends on it (it does) and make it earn more while you are earning a lot of it. And yes, get a pro to do this. “Your cousin who’s good with money” doesn’t count.

The original article can be found here

A Tale of Two Cities?

scotttietzel — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 21:15:24 +0000

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times…. Charles Dickens wrote these words in 1859. His words echoed all to well March 26th 2011. It was the Tale of Two Cites, San Dimas, and Redlands California also known as the Inland Empire, a vast valley east of Los Angels where nearly 5 milling people live, work and deal with crime. Not exactly bike racing paradise but the start of the road racing season every year with San Dimas Stage Race followed by NRC opener Redlands Classic. Team Rio Grande, number two amateur team in 2010 did not get invited to Redland and so San Dimas was our chance to shine and prove to the promoter that we deserved a spot. The first days uphill time trial was a short hard effort showing who was in good early season form. Kenda/ Geargrinder/ 5 hr Energy’s Ben Day used his pent up aggression from the Pegasus fallout to blitz the course in 12:48. Much to Team Rio Grande’s delight our own Chad Haga put is a fantastic ride just 40 sec off the pace and placing 13th. Even better yet he claimed the young riders white jersey, something we planned to defend to the end. Just 24 later and lady luck was not on our side. Half way through the road race our field caught and passed the Cat 2 group on a very narrow section of road crossing a dam. As we passed the 2′s crashed, casualties included our lone 2′s racer Adam Wisseman who was sitting in 3rd after the time trial. Adams day was quickly ended as he fell on someones chain ring with his forearm giving him five deep punctures. More over in the crash he managed to rip his cleat out of the adapter plate which was still attached to his shoe. The crash cascaded across the Pro 1 field as we passed and Chad fell victom as he was hit from behind and got his rear derailleur ripped off. No team car and little wheel support let me having to think quick. I gave Chad my bike, the problem, he was on different pedals. I ripped off my shoes and he did the same. Nothing more time consuming then a full bike and shoe swap on the side of the road to try and get back into the race and keep the jersey. My day was done so I hitched a ride back to the start with Adam who needed some stitches for his arm. I sat at the van for the rest of the race only to hear the news once everyone had returned. Verdict was we lost the jersey and most of the team was time cut trying to chase back. To make matters worse Captain Ian Holt was involved in a crash in the last lap flipping over the bars tearing up his hand and severely injuring his ribs. Sunday the team when for a ride while Holt was having too much pain to race. Later that evening I became really sick and spent Monday the 28th, my birthday in bed while the team did the epic Mt Baldy mountain stage for this years Tour of California. A few more days of riding in the mountains and we were headed back home to Colorado empty handed and looking for redemption.

California racing

scotttietzel — Sat, 26 Mar 2011 05:54:12 +0000

Team Rio Grande has taken a road trip out west to kick of the season at the San Dimas stage race. It took two days of driving with an uneventful over Vail Pass then things picked up on the western slope. A lunch stop in Fruita and we were off again this time the wind had picked up and visibility was at a minimum from dust in the air. Approaching St George we hit a brief but strong winter storm. Finally we hit the big city light of Las Vegas. Yes Vegas baby! Well actually we stayed at the Tuscany Suites and it was thankfully in the 24 hrs we were there, two meals and good nights sleep later and it was by far the most pleasant and un Vegas experience I have ever had in Sin City. Day two was a short and entertaining drive to Chino passing through the Mojave Desert and past historical places like the Calico ghost town. the journey ended in Chino and our time in California is in full swing.