matt davis

Fort Worth Day #2

... My face in this picture pretty much sumsup my day on Sunday. It was the hardest racing hour I logged all year on the bike, bar none.  It was also one of the funnest.  The course was good once again, though not quite as technical as the day before. Chances to recover were absent from the course and it was full throttle all lap every lap. I got a good start and rode/worked with Chopper for most of the race. Late in the race I rode us up to Mitch's wheel and fired my last bullet of the day in an attempt to break from the two. Shortly there after i was reeled in by the duo and with half a lap to go I waved the white flag and settled in for a hard fought 6th place... Now for a little rest and time to start planning for next year.

    

   

Fort Worth Day #1

Yesterday was good. The course was my favorite yet. And I wrangled in another top 5; 4th to be exact. Today will be interesting. The legs are feeling yesterdays effort. Hopefully I will skip the first lap barrier smash up that i have been making an unneeded regular occurrence lately... Time to pack up and head out.

kill yourself. one hour at a time.

Saturday: I stumbled through the barriers on the first full lap due to feeling strangely nervous. After regaining composure i started to work through the spots that i had lost. After four laps or so I ended up in a group comprised of Justin Wallace, Stefan Rothe, Raymond Hall and myself. We rode together reeling in the two man break of Will Ross and Andrew Dahleim. Within a couple laps we chewed them up and spit them out along with Raymond. For the next twenty minutes or so we continued to grow the gap developing a big safe lead over the field. Rothe attacked with three to go. It was all i could to sit on Justin's will as he chased, but Rothe was gone. On the final lap Justin attacked me up the final long climb and i settled in for 3rd. My first CX open class podium. Sweet.  

Sunday: Thirty minutes in I felt the wheels come off. Saturdays effort had done me in. Damage control was the only option left. Up until this point I had been riding with alead group of five including Rothe,  Dahleim, Hall, Brig Brandt and myself. Brig was killing it from the second lap on, putting in surge after surge and stringing out the field in his wake. I was hoping to save a top five finish, but it wasn't in the cards. Kevin Koen was steadily reeling me in and once i was caught i couldn't contest him. I ended up sixth for the day. All in all not a bad weekend. I cant wait for Fort Worth next weekend.

   

 

 

Thanks to my family for coming out both days to cheer me on, give me hand ups and hang out in the cold. And thanks to the Mad Duck Crew for letting me sneak out of work to race Saturday despite us being short handed.

Pick Yer Poison

TX CUP CYCLOCROSS DFW COMING SOON!  This weekend and next to be exact. Get on your bike and come discover your new favorite cycling discipline. Or, if you just want an excuse to heckle strangers here is your chance.

Norbuck Park, Dallas Nov 15th

http://txbra.org/events/event.asp?EventID=1723

Flagpole Hill, Dallas Nov 16th

http://txbra.org/events/event.asp?EventID=1736

Trinity Park, Fort Worth Nov 22nd

http://txbra.org/events/event.asp?EventID=1724

Lockheed Martin Recreational Area , Forth Worth Nov 23rd (free beer)

http://txbra.org/events/event.asp?EventID=1725

.0064

   Sunday morning me and my youngest bro Dylan headed out to RCP for the last DORBArace of the fall. With race falling on the same date as the TMBRA fall finale i wasn't sure what to expect in the turnout, but it was good. Over 400 riders for the day. I lined up with the usual suspects and was ready to make sure that Lucas didn't run away with it from the start. Lucas, myself and one other rider opened a gap a soon as we hit the single track. For two of our three laps we kept a good pace as Lucas and I were periodically attacked by Nathan. I lead for the better portion of the two laps feeling really strong in the open sections. Coming through the start/finish for the last time i suspected Lucas' move would be happening soon. With about a quarter of the lap down Luke fired off the front as i accelerated to stay on his wheel. We were instantly alone and railing through the trail. I mean absolutely flying! We went as fast as the trail would allow. I followed Luke move for move, acceleration for acceleration. We were standing out of corners and sprinting up the rollers. He couldn't drop me and I couldn't get past him. It was a beautiful battle. Coming into the last half mile of the course i decided to try to come around as we hit the final straight and give Luke a heads up sprint to the line. Just as we were about to pop out of the single track I buzzed Luke's back wheel, losing just a touch of momentum. I stood and sprinted to make up lost ground. For the better part of 50 meters we were neck and neck. Luke edged me out by margins up to now seen only in swimming. Six hundredths of a second. The second i stopped pedaling my legs totally locked up. It was a great race and I enjoy racing with Lucas. He's fast, courteous and polite. It was a good way to end my mtb season. I've got two consecutive weekends of cross coming up and i like where my fitness is at. Barring a broken crank it should go pretty well... My youngest brother Dylan decided to give mtb racing a try this weekend in the 16-18 cat 3's. Other than startling some lady which resulted in her falling 10 feet into the creek his race went pretty good. He got the hole shot and won by a looooooong way! The result of which was him having to do an interview over the pa with Ben haha.

     

.... check out Meech and company getting some press from Cycling News thanks to superstar roadie. http://cyclingnews.com/mtb.php?id=mtb/2008/nov08/rockyhill08

night moves

Wednesday night CX practice worlds, thats what i was doing last night. And I was on a tear, seeking redemption from my mechanical induced failure over the weekend. I went on the offensive the last few laps and made it stick. It feels good to win practice. This weekend is a local mtb race and then its two full weekends of CX. I cant wait for the cross races in Dallas and Fort Worth. After that i will call it a season and take it easy for a bit.

punt yer' pedals.

   Todays race started out great. Good legs and a superb course had me stoked. I sat comfortably in 3rd for the first five laps or so until my pedal ripped through the threads in my cranks. Yep, good stuff. I knew I was putting down too much power. After a few choice words and multiple trys at mounting the pedal, all that was left to do was punt said pedal and find my way to the pits to call it a day. Luckily my friend John was able to lend me his bike and even though i was five or six minutes off the lead i was able to finish my workout. Thanks John! And thanks to my brother Dylan for day tripping it with me and giving me killer hand ups! In two weeks i will have some real cranks on the bike and I am getting on that podium...  Despite my sub par finish i did manage the coolest skin suit of the day.