Special' training camp for Rock Racing

By cyclingnews

Tyler Hamilton and his Rock Racing teammates
Photo ©: Luis Barbosa

CSC/Saxo Bank has, until now, been the team reputed for having the toughest training camps. But their ordeals trudging around frozen tundra or crawling in rank, sticky mud for days on end pale in comparison to the character-building plans unveiled by Rock Racing at a team press conference today.

From its inception, the American continental squad has had one big belief. "We are bigger, better and, most of all, badder than all the others," said tattooed and pierced team spokesman Mitchell Batt, pausing for effect. "Other teams are making a big deal about what they do during the off season but, frankly, they are a pack of yellow-bellied wimps.

"When we do something, we do it in style. What we are planning will blow those other teams away."

The team devised a plan for his riders to spend one whole month during its off-season in a very special location. "San Quentin," said Batt, savouring each syllable of that feared name. "And I don't mean that little town in France."

According to Batt, the team has negotiated a deal with the Californian penitentiary for each rider on his team to be incarcerated for 30 days. During that time, they will not be given any special privileges. They will be treated exactly like the other inmates, and will not be assisted or protected in any way.

"It's like Survivor, only a bit more literally," he grinned, raising his first and fourth fingers in the air and sticking out his tongue. "Sure, it's dangerous, but think of the benefits. Plenty of upper body gym work. Neat tattoos. Character-honing conditions. Oh, and a real good way to ensure the guys don't pile on the weight during the off-season."

Show me the Cash, Johnny

The Rock Racing plan is more than just an attempt to further toughen up its riders, it's a survival mechanism for the squad which faced extinction unless it could find additional sponsorship. Under the plan unveiled today, the team's progress inside the walls and bars will be secretly filmed, using hundreds of mechanically operated cameras secretly hidden around the prison. The revenue from a reality show to be shown weekly on a cable television network would fun the squad for three seasons.

"Think American Idol. Think Top Model. Think Survivor," Batt beamed, winking at one of his stunning Rock & Republic hostesses. "This will out perform all of them. We'll send the whole team in, see how they stand up to life on the inside. That's primetime TV material. That's big bucks.

"We've got 17 riders. We'll keep… ah… let's say 12 for 2010. Maybe 13. If you ain't badass enough, you are out. Period. If you can't survive the showers, you won't be on my team."

"Of course, I will do something really rad to mark the occasion," Batt continued, toying with an outrageously oversized pair of sunglasses. "Rock & Republic is going to design some badass jumpsuits for the guys. We are bringing style to San Quentin and, next year, bringing some extra whoop-ass to the peloton."

Nothing to exciting happen in the race yesterday but crashes. Race was pretty slow until the sprint and time bonuses came up. Felt great, Colivita and Jelly Belly crashed going into the first turn on the last lap. I was sitting 6th wheel just waiting to smoke everyone. I didn’t get a chance.

 

Once my misfortunes run out ill be killing them.

 

 

 

 

 

So I started stage two yesterday after debating whether or not I should start given my current health conditions.
 
With a wind advisory in effect in Riverside county it was going to make for some really hard racing.
The first 20k was crazy. We had a tail wind that pushed us over 70k an hour. I was more scared then, than I am in the finale of a sprint bumping and fighting for wheels.
 
Anyway, the race started fast, then went slow as we turned right into the 40mph headwind.
My legs were feeling really good but with the chest burning I was having a difficult time breathing.
The first time up, the climb was really fast and I didn't know what to expect so I found a good wheel and just followed it.
 
The second time up the climb, we went pretty slow but as we got to the flat part of the course heading back toward the start finish Team Ouch hit the front in the cross wind section that split the 200 man field into about 4-5 different groups. I made the main split which looked to be about 65 guys.
I feel if the cross wind sections were 3-4k longer the group could have perhaps stayed away and or could have been more selective.
 
Now we are on the 3rd time up the climb and I'm really uncomfortable however I'm about 1k from the top and I crossed wheels with Brad Huff and crashed.
I got right back up and found a group that was about 30 seconds behind the lead group. We chased for about half a lap and got back on right at the first climb.
 
In the final lap going up the hill I really had a hard time breathing so I made a decision to just chill and ride to the finish and not put myself in more trouble.
 
I felt good about the race and I know I'm on the right track to peak at my target dates.

I remember this course from two years ago, which was the last time I raced the Redlands Classic. Today, even though I'm a bit under the weather I was really focused and wanted to at the least prove to myself that I can still push a little when I needed to.

I got a pretty good warm up...about 1 hr to be exact. Full TT bike with disk wheel and front Tri spoke HED wheel. Giro Aero helmet and I'm ready to go.

I took off and the legs felt pretty good. A bit deceiving because you start on a down hill for about 100 meters and you slightly start to go up. Just 1k from the start you make a right hand turn and you start a power climb for about 800 meters. I got over the top of that climb with good speed and I was happy the way things were headed. Now I'm on the false flat up hill section that last for about 2k. I got slower and slower as this road seem forever. With 2k to go a Ouch guy went pass me just as we are about to make another right hander and head up another freaking hill. This would be the last kilometer and a half to the finish.

I really blew up and never recovered. I tried...I really did but my time will not reflect that.

I'm really looking forward to tomorrow and if anything exciting happens in-between time or in the meantime ill let you know.

Results that I know of is

1.Ben Day (fly-v Australia)

3.Chris Baldwin (Rock Racing)

 

does this look like a 34minute TT?

Last week in San Dimas was just a really bad race for me and I decided not to write anything because I was so mad I'm sure I would have said something to offend someone.

However ill tell you, I flatted on the first lap of the road race. I stayed calm by letting the team know in the radios that I "Rahsaan Bahati" have flatted. I ride about 700 meters on the flat to make sure the team was going to stop for me and also to remain as close as possible to the field before stopping. Caleb Manion stopped gave me his wheel and no one else. I chased and chased and never once saw anyone. The field lapped me and after riding 4-5 laps with the main group word on the street is some of the team directors started to complain to the officials about me being in the group.

I knew at this point I could not help or contest the final sprint; i just wanted to ride for training. So I was pulled and I was very, very disappointed at the team.

All do respect to the guys who finished top 3 in the stage, but in a field sprint I run circles around those guys.

So moving on to Redlands

I'm here now in the hotel and wanted to let you all know ill make a daily blog of the behind the scene stuff that guys on and tell you the real low down.

 

 

 

ill talk to you later.

 

my throw back pic of the day

(Paul Chi, Karl Bordin, Bahati, Ivan Dominguez, Tony Cruz)

 

I'm on Twitter. Check me out.

http://twitter.com/bahatiracing

Yesterday after an aggressive race in the crit. The Chocolate express powered by FedEx was a little late on the delivery. The truck broke down and was only running on 4 cylinders instead of all 8. However, we still managed to get me into 3rd position, taking the last podium spot.
 
Two guys went up the road very early in the race and I have to say those two guys had to be pretty F*&** strong because the field wasn't going slow and they maintained a 25-35 second gap for more than 45 minutes.
 
With 8 to go, the gap started to come down. As it got to about 15 seconds I had my boys on the front pretty much going 100% full gas to close the deal.
 
We were just one man too short. One guy from the break was caught in the last turn and the winner actually came from the field as he attacked with one to go and caught the leaders....it was a great move from the BMC rider. Second place guy held on from the break and I sprinted for the final and last spot on the podium.
 
 Sometimes they work out very well and sometimes they down. Yesterday was a test for the young guys on the team when it comes to big races. Winning the local stuff is great, but when you have to race guys like Tony Cruz and he brings a team or FlyV Australia when they have a full team, the stacks are higher and the competition level goes up a few levels. It was a hard way to get third when I know WE had control of winning the race. Some people say. "you cant win them all" but we could have won yesterday and that the disappointing part.
 

 

 

Sunday is a new day and I think we will be fine.    

Most of you may not know this, but since Obama has been in office Fedex has made an extension to their delivery service named "chocolate express". I kid you not, its true. Just check the results from the last three weeks of bike racing around California. Two Chocolate brothers have been delivering like crazy.LOL

 

anyways, we did a race Sunday right near my house and a huge field turned out including some Fly V Austrailian team with the Austrailian Crit champ and a few others. It looked as if it would be very good race. Well not so much. Everyone waited for someone else to do something and inturn nothing never really happened. 

So, again there is a field sprint and hacing Iggy, Sterling and I leading Justin out its almost like a done deal. All we need is a little luck to not crash and things should be fine. Sterling got me half way up the hill and I took it from 400m out to the turn, coming out of the turn first with Justin on my wheel. Justin takes the win and I hold on for second. 

By now most of you have seen the pics and know that I won my first big race of this very young year.

Saturday was the Merced Crit up in Merced California just 300 miles from Los Angeles. Friday morning Iggy, Sterling and I drove up to win. Honestly. There was no doubt in my mind that we could win the crit and the road race as wel

The crit was typical fast crit. The threat of rain scared me. Other than that, I was very confident about the team chances.

The Game Plan

Iggy and Danny cover moves the first half of the race, Sterling and Justin the second half of the race, and as for me. I could do whatever I wanted to.

 

So after 90 minutes of racing it’s clearly going to be a field sprint. So all the guys did there best to line it up for me but it was just to crazy and we were not strong enough to smash it from 2-3 laps out so we had to play off of others.

My thoughts were that Bissell or Colivita would line it up something viscous for there guys but it just never happen. With 1 lap to go, Sterling and Danny ended up behind somehow and the next thing I hear is bikes hitting the ground. Sterling and Danny took a nasty fall including many others. That sound gave me an extra 10 watts because I tried to get the hack out of there.

Coming out the last turn I was 5^th or 6^th wheel and once I sized up the guys in front of me I got on top of my gear and I literally glided by everyone taking win.

It was a crazy scary last 8 lap’s but I was protected and used some skill to make it out with a win.