Fred gets ready to fire up the turbo out in SanFran, California. Congrats on great results!!
Team Xtreme,

We've been back almost a week now and I'm finally getting an email to you about the National Senior Olympic Games in the San Francisco bay area that several of you have been asking about. The Games are held every other year by a new host city. We got a new ISP at home which was just activated the other day and I've been busy getting caught up at the office, so here are the results.

It was a long three day drive to San Mateo. No option to fly with 2 bikes and lots of wheelsets. One of the race officials had previously told me in an email to "rest assured, it never rains here this time of year". The morning of the first road race (20K) stated with light rain. but it mostly dried up by race start. All 4 races were held on the same 6-mile course which was closed to traffic and consisted on some nice rollers, some long and but not overly steep. IMHO, the courses were not challenging enough to break up the large pack until the VERY END where the course climbed nearly 200-ft in less than a 1/2 mile. I predicted that there would be crashes at the base of the hill after a fast downhill just before a sharp left hand turn up the start of the big S-bend hill. Everyone, especially the sprinters, were trying to be the first into the turn. About 10 riders were ahead of me when a crash occurred on my far right. It became a slugfest of lactic acid and I finished 5th overall, barely catching the 4th place rider at the line by inches. The winner was from Washington state.

The 40K RR the next day was pretty much the same, except it was much more spirited. They started the 50-54 pack 1-min ahead of us, and as we came down the big-s-bend downhill in a neutral rollout, and then turned right onto the course, we had to stop. There was already a nasty crash in the 50-54 race. Three riders were down and 1 had to exit the race. Once we restarted, the attacks began. I threw in a few attacks myself, and chased down everything that broke. There was one attack that we all rested from, when two riders snuck off the front. They didn't attack, they just slowly rode off the front. Nobody reacted, and next thing they had a nice gap. Found out later that one of the lead riders in our group, who had won the 20K, was essentially "blocking" for another Washington rider in the breakaway. Although I make several concerted efforts with other riders to reel them in, there was not enough sustained effort to catch them. The majority of riders just sucked wheel. Despite the pace, virtually the entire pack remained intact. So I rode hard down the final downhill, and was the first rider in the pack to make the turn at the base of the climb. Several riders passed me but I was able to pass a few and finished 5th again - another "podium finish".

Two days rest, then the 5K and 10K TT's were held on the same course - 5K in the AM, 10K in the early PM. They had hired a professional co. to score the races. They used a nice start ramp and riders were required to fasten transponders to their front wheel for all 4 races for "instant and accurate timing and results". Well, officials didn't know that the city had recently installed wires under the road which messed up the timing devices so they had to score it manually. They were accurate, but we were not provided the results of the 5K until AFTER the 10K was completed!

I ended up with the Silver medal in the 5K, riding a 6:52 at an average pace of 27.1 MPH. When I swept all 4 events with Gold 2 years ago in Louisville, KY, I had set a new 55+ age-group distance record then with a 7:11, so although I bettered my time by 0:19, I got beat by 9 secs this year. The good news was that I had beat the Washington St guy (who had won the 20K RR) by LESS than a second! Scott Sifferman from Missouri won the Gold. Fourth place was just 3 secs back, and 5th was 10 secs back.

Then things really started to heat up. Temps reached 95-100. The winds calmed and there was an air inversion where the air quality turns bad. Riders were hacking and getting dehydrated. Plus the waiting around for hours in the heat for the results was not helping. The 10K started as scheduled. Had I known the results of the 5K I might have changed wheels. But I finished 3rd in the 10K (14:28) with Bronze, getting beat out of Silver by just 1 sec by the Washington guy who I had beat out in the 5K. Scott won the Gold again. The 4th place rider behind me was just 2 secs back (he had placed 2nd in the 40K breakaway), and 5th place was just 3 secs back! Overall for all riders 50+, I had finished 4th in the 5K and 5th in the 10K. It was also amazing to see the winners of both of the 60+ and 65+ age groups ride sub 15:00 in the 10K TT.

In general, the competition was very keen. The only guys that rode better than I were essentially the new 55 year olds that were new to the age group. The NSGA put on a nice BBQ the evening of the last event. Other Omaha riders included Team Kaos riders Suzanne Wilson (2 podium finishes), Gary Schmidt (2 - 8th places), and Doug Semisch and Steve Kramer. Jody and I spent the next 3 days hiking in Yosemite where temps hit 98 in the Valley. Six days of driving round-trip was a bit much, but a great experience overall.

- Fred Galata

Crits and Bits

Pic: Pedro votes two thumbs up for TT review.

Day 3 recap: For some odd reason, the Men's 45+ Cat 4 omnium was based only on the road race and TT events, not the crit too. Ahh, that's sad.....NOT. You know how I hate crits. So, I finished the omnium in third place based on my 1st place TT and 9th place RR. Cashed in some more hardware (3rd place bronze medal for overall...real cool) and a big ass jar of GU2 powder for swag.

The Crit: I told myself the goal was to finish and NOT WRECK, since the crit didn't count towards anything omnium-wise and it was unlikely I would compete for 1st, 2nd or 3rd in the crit. I finished 18th out of 27, but the race was marred with accidents. Two unlucky souls got carted off on stretchers into the ambulance and straight to the hospital. Do not pass GO and do not collect Primes. Poor guys. The previous race also had a junior wipe out in the same exact location and fracture her clavicle...sound familiar Speed Queen??

So, great weekend of racing. Lots of hardware and swag. Lots of props from the Colorado riders for a flatlander coming in and ruling the TT. Heard some guys behind me in the neutral RR rollout say "some dude from Nebraska won the TT. We Googled him last night." Guess they were worried about me in the RR too.

Sitting in Estes Park drinking coffee at Long' Peak Coffee Haus. Gonna do Trail Ridge Road tomorrow for FUN! (12,189 ft.). See ya back in the 'hood soon! Adios!

Road Raced and Roasted

Pic: Dad is greeted post-road race by his feed zone pit crew...Millie and Monie

Quick recap: El Guapo rode in the State Games of America road race today in Salida. Had about 20 guys in my 45+, Cat 4 group. We started a minute behind the 40 rider strong 35+, Cat 4 group. It was torcherous. Super hot and sunny. The 12 miles loop was a killer. Long, long ascent up 10% grades. Once over the top, screaming descent, hitting 50mph+ routinely.

I ended up 9th out of twenty. Not sure yet of my omnium position. Hope to hold onto 3rd. The guy who finished 3rd in TT finished 2nd in road race. I'll know tomorrow morning after crit.

I let the mountain goats go once we hit the first ascent. Dudes were about 150 lbs soaking wet and could climb like ivy. I might have finished a little higher, but ended up overshooting a corner at high speed and went down in ditch. No broken bones, but took a minute to shake the cobwebs.

Felt stronger each lap. Had to go up the beastly grades 4 times. Not to disappointed with finish really. Dined on a lot of the 35+ riders. Cramped a little on the last lap, but commanded my gray cells to override pain signals from right leg.

Had Millie and Simone handing me water bottles at feed zones. They were decked out in their Tony Tiger kit. People thought they were sweet. They usually are.

Didn't sleep a stinkin wink last night, period. The extra burden of wearing the mellow johnny, I guess. Hopefully sleep will arrive tonite via Dead-Ex. That's what my body feels like now. Yea, tho I cycle thru the mountains of death, I shall fear no evil, for I love the pain. I was built to process pain. Pain is my life. Ciao.

Riding High!

Pic: El Guapo in O2 debt post-TT, but manages to pose with his trusty $675 Cervelo warhorse.

OK Velocistas,

Ever been gasping for air so much the back of your throat is raw? That's what I felt yesterday at the end of the State Games of America time trial. But, great news. El Guapo diesels in for the TT win in my category. Holy jumping jelly beans! Great Horny Toads! Exceeded my expectations. I had hoped for a podium.

Let's recap. Simone and I came out a week early. I test rode the rather short TT course last Saturday. It starts off with a quick descent and several S turns, then straightens out into a false flat up to the turn around point. The return is quicker as you speed down the false flat and the S turns, but the ascent to the finish is the killer.

The race:

Prior to race, I noticed that they had me in with the Cats 1, 2, and 3 45+ racers. There was a Cat 4, 45+ division that I should have been in. Consulted with the race directors and referees. They said go ahead and race with the 1, 2 and 3s, and they would switch me over to Cat 4 at race end. So picture me warming up with all these super fast, savvy, thin-air breathing dudes from Colorado and other states.

I just barely got to the start gate on time. I was #153. (saved this for the scrapbook). Saw #154 of the fellow following me waiting at the gate. Got in front of him, then they held my bike while I clipped in. Had trouble again with booties, but got locked in with 15 seconds to go. They launched new riders every 30 seconds. Screamed out of the starting blocks like a kamikaze pilot about to detonate against an aircraft carrier.

Strangely un-nervous about the whole affair. I had checked out my rabbit (#152) while warming up. He was decked out in beautiful Team Evergreen kit, and had rippling calf muscles. Obviously used to racing at altitude, which was above 7,200 feet in Salida. After the first descent and turns, I had closed about 10 seconds on him. Held this up the false flat as we labored to turn around point. I was downshifting all the way up this flat and had just run out of gears and gas at the turn around. Noticed the fella behind me had not gained on me, so that was great. Locked my rabbit into the cross-hairs and matched his descent. Didn't hit the brakes at all during S curves, then gained good time on him on the uphill ascent to finish. Not much screaming at finish, rather looked like fish on the beach gasping for oxygen. Held high 170s heart beats/minute during whole affair.

Simone, Millie and CK were located as soon as vision came back around. Sucked down a tepid Diet Coke, then could start talking again. Told Simone I closed gap on my rabbit and didn't get passed, so that boded well. We met down at Alpine Park waiting for results. Like most races, results ran late getting posted, so we went to motel and cleaned up. Returned later to park. Millie and I dropped down to grass and said little prayer prior to approaching trailer where results were posted. Then crossed our fingers (not superstitious at all) and went to see.

Smoked it! Finished in 17:27. Beat second place fella by almost a full minute. Would have placed 4th in the Cat 1,2, 3 race. Waiting for "official results" sometime today, but no one protested the finishing list.

I was happy as a clam. This had been the focal point of season. Thanks to everyone who helped me; teammates at Velo, John the Carpenter for covering spin classes for me, training partners for cycling and running. Life is good right now. I didn't sleep a wink last night. Body temp was elevated as were endorphins.

Back in the saddle soon for the 48 mile road race, complete with 50+mph descents. Leading the omnium results right now. Hope to hold my spot and finish high up in the omnium. Check back later for more! Ohhh, unbeeevaable!