Alpha Kappa Alpha Horror Stories

Open accounts ...

Les Trois balloons - with this race I had a score to settle. After having two years ago after a 70 mile solo ride had lost in the end increase in rows and had occupied positions at the end of 20th place should be all better this year be. Click to go to a well had been my stated goals for the season, and I am very good performance in Gerolstein also seemed a good finish at Trois balloons in range. Too bad that the immediate preparation was under a good star. It mated trouble at work with bad weather and stress of the material. This resulted in a significant loss of motivation and the feeling no longer be in the form of Gerolstein.
could After all, I start two years ago from the very first start block where I stand then, together with Jan, Flo and Steffi who ventured for the first time ever at a distance of 200 kilometers, shortly after 7.00 clock. The Weather promises to be very nice - after all, it was indeed in the previous days have been rather moderate. After a brief chat with Harry (a Norwegian fellow sufferers), falls at 7.15 clock in the opening shot and it goes from first Gemählich pace Champagney, in the direction of the first climb, the Ballon de Servance. I try to immediately orient to the front since I knew from my last participation in her yet that the road would be sukkzessive increasingly narrow, and it cost in the later rise even more power to go forward. This oh well I succeed, sometimes I find myself with Flo in the top ten. It was also made into the first climb the first only slightly increases. We past the turnoff to the conclusion later increase. Slowly, the road becomes steeper and narrower and the pace faster. I consider myself still very front of the field will, do not miss the connection - finally had settled two years ago, the crucial first group is already here. This time I will go at the risk and keep me necessarily in that first group. Front makes a driver in a gray shirt with a red wheel the pace. And the pace is fast. A glance at the pulse: 186 Quickly look away again and continue. The legs feel strange: kind of fat, but they work (still) really well. So stay tuned on. On top of the Top of the pass, we are perhaps 15 riders in the group. At the rear of Flo I roll in sixth or seventh on the first mountain. Ok, that would be done already. Now comes the rather unpleasant exit: bad roads, a lot split, blind, partially related to the outside corners. In short, a departure, in which one is glad when it is over. I am satisfied first time that my plan in the first group n on the balloon de Servance come to be considered is. In the next level, the pace is asleep, however, relatively soon, and I use that to cater for me. Due to the extremely leisurely pace (and perhaps an additional red light, which we briefly thwarting) a fairly large group closes from behind again, so that the group now consists of only 50 drivers.
The next two "col", the Col du Ménil (which hardly deserves the name) and the Col d'Or be run over without much happening. Time to keep chat. Now I also see the driver with a gray shirt and red bike: Jens Volkmann, last year's winner. He wanted to go only the first in the downhill, his succinct explanation than my joke, now is clear to me why the pace on the balloon de Servance has been so high.
for the next mountain, the Col de Bramont, I expected the pace of tightening and attacks. I am still trying to stop the front of the box, even when the legs feel weird thick. It's a strange feeling: on one hand the legs work well, on the other hand, this strange feeling thick. No matter. Continue. On Bramont expected, the pace is kept high, Jens Volkmann has two teammates that perform the work for him. And shortly before the summit, which is however followed by only a very short descent before it goes up the steep climb to the route of the Crêtes, the attack by Jens Volkmann - I rise with some others, including my team-mate Flo behind. Stay tuned over the top I can still, in the second attack, I must see that I have lived this far beyond my means. At first the gap to just slow, but then I lose visual contact with the relatively soon, to be with my teammates. Overtakes driver to me. Now on the following 20 miles to the Grand Ballon, I cover the deliberately cloak of silence.
At Grand Ballon I'm all alone. I take the time to stop me briefly to talk to my parents and take up a new bottle. At this point the race for me is gone. The hand is already on the Velcro of the transponder, to press him to my mother's hand, which I then let it remain. I continue slow and unmotivated role. And then who do I see on the roadside on the trunk of a car stand, helmet saved, bicycle leaning against a post? Jens Volkmann. Well thanks, take me off your shoes first and then get out. At my suggestion to go the last 100 kilometers as better training to the end, he does not enter. I think again briefly to pee. From behind is still no one. As I go down like a beginner on a disastrous line the exit from the Grand Ballon, I wonder whether or not even to wait for Steffi, or at least to Jan, whom I had seen in the top flight no longer and therefore wähne behind me.
As the descent as slowly waking up my spirits again, I suddenly see Flo in a serpentine, are of just the moment when I come over from his father, is pushed back into the exit. What happened there? I understand in the downhill hardly what I tried to call out to Flo, but somehow he had a problem with his saddle. As far as I understand. I give him to understand that the race is over for me, but I would go for him if he wants to. We quickly go downhill. We quickly caught up with two drivers. It follows the rise to the Col du dog jerk. Here asks me Flo, if I had not chance a 4-Allen, he had to tighten his saddle. I give him while driving my saddle bag, which contains my little multi-tool. I offer him to wait for him, and expect, that he would continue to tighten his saddle again. Again and again I look back to him not too far to drive away, and wonder that he does not last. Finally, I see how he tightens the screws on the ride of his post. If I were not so corrupt, I would probably me a smile whether this action can not resist. Together we climb the Col du dog jerk. Since I am something better, I'm doing most of the leadership. "4 minutes behind the next great group!", Calls us to my father on the pass. We fall in the downhill. On
The following flat section to the Ballon d'Alsace in particular presents an almost Flo hellish pace, if he leaves in the wind, the speed is stabilized at 40 to 41 km / h, even I can drive my detachments with perhaps 38 km / h . However, we're together so quickly on the road that we have to the foot of the Ballon d'Alsace, only two and a half minutes behind the group ahead of us. The first relapsing drivers, we have also been obtained. Together, we regularly turn we take the nearly 10-kilometer increase in attack. While we in the lower part of the increase through the landscape at least half-way to our agony, now it is quite warm become to be compensated, the second half of the increase then more or less pure suffering. These contradictory statements come on the remaining miles to the summit.
But at some point is reached, this summit, and on the descent, we are able to obtain an additional driver. Together with the drivers, we get one soon, two other drivers, so that we have for the subsequent 30 kilometers to the final climb after all, a group of five.
I start to count, whether it perhaps in spite of my total failure between kilometers 80 and 105 could still rich at a time under seven hours. As it turned out to the numerous waves, Flo and I are the strongest Rider in the group. Nevertheless, still some 25 km to attend plus final climb. And before that final climb I have strong respect. In our group includes the guided tours of shorter, only Flo still seems able to generate a reasonably fast pace walk. Just before the turnoff to the final climb I will tear off after him just as he is in the lead, because no other moves behind, I call after him yet, he should go. I even turn immediately to the lowest gear, and I hope the 5-kilometer-long ordeal, called mountaintop finish at the Belles Filles Planche, bringing with decency behind me. From my parents, I let my appointment as rich a Coke, and later water I pour myself but mainly for cooling of the head. I suffer wrong, but wants to go faster and I can not remember either. I count the miles back and try to remember whether it is behind the next curve is steeper or flatter. A few isolated members of the short 100 km round can be seen as a pushing side of the road - amazing, it goes through my mind, we are almost twice as fast on how this driver. After I was in the beginning of the increase fell even behind all the riders in our group of five, I get this now by and by. Eventually, this mountain is over. lege for the (much flatter) last 200 m I once again on the big sheet, and after almost exactly 6 hours and 55 minutes, I have also achieved the goal.
After 8 hours and 21 minutes to reach the goal even Steffi - as the fifth woman on that day. The fourth place in their category, they just barely scrapes by on the podium. A great achievement for her marathon debut!
Flo with his final sprint uphill about a half minutes in front of me at the 29th Place come to the finish, while Jan with a time of just over 7 hours on the 41st Place went to the finish.
At the end, for me a 37th Place to book. The time is about one minute slower than two years ago, my goal to improve myself so I have missed in two respects. Satisfied I'm not with it. It probably would have run better if I had tried at first not to make or break ride with the best, but that was just my goal was, and I wanted to take the risk, too. Keep it that way: with Trois balloons I open a bill, and next year I'll try to do better.

PS: I will add pictures in the coming days. And sorry to all those that should have been waiting for a report ...

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Eifel rollercoaster

"Look out, it rains. Such a shit. "About as the mood at the breakfast table, after the day started yet dry, with some even blue sky added. As if it would not be sufficient that our landlady has overslept, and we must swallow our breakfast down in minor parts. More than three slices of bread with a bit of sausage are not in it for me, my beloved cereal must be canceled. After all, Jan's parents would be some clothes off at the start, so that we roll packed thick with Duppach the eight miles to start to Gerolstein. Although it has stopped raining, but the water is on the streets, and then it does not matter whether the water comes from above or from below. Since I had stood five spring races dry and fall-free, and there must be deducted from my this year's Marathon debut rain. Eifel indicated. Nevertheless, my anticipation builds with each meter, we come closer to the start. No sign of the nervousness that I had ever before attacked the license race. Maybe it's because cycling marathon run but rather is my element? That my form is good, I know, only the doubt whether it would be enough even for 209 km remains - since training camp in March, I was no longer than 4 hours at a sitting in the saddle.
Clock Item 8 is the start, even a short "Good luck" to Steffi, Sebastian and Jan, who want to venture into the 140 km or the 117-km round and then it is accompanied the hundredfold Einklickgeräusch the pedals already going on. 209 km through the Eifel, uphill and downhill, no longer increases, no long runs, a few flat pieces to relax, and all the gray overcast sky and light in a repetitive rain.
except for the dirt, slowly morphing into gray-white of my arm warmers and my vest, one's for my taste pretty high speed and an unsuccessful Stefan Mistler out for the first 80 miles pretty low. I try to be always at the forefront of the field stop without too much to ride in the wind, trying to find out who now runs which route to know whom I have any descendants. Even Jan and Sebastian always keep in the front positions. Shortly after km 80 engages on Jan. With it goes with one other driver. It is one of these attacks, in which one is happy if one does not have boots behind, because a) it is a team-mate, who has attacked and b) the attacking riders take a different route and thus present no immediate danger. In the field, Sebastian and I try the other drivers first place, to convince them that it is not necessary to drive afterwards, because the two front "only" want to drive the 117 km-round. Accordingly, half-heartedly pursuing first drops pending. But this is changing just a few miles later: Nino Ackermann engages with this year's winner of the "Eschborn Frankfurt City Loop," a rather vigorous Luxembourg (secretly I'm him "the Kazakhs' baptized, as he travels with Astana-pants, on the back of large" Kazakhstan Railway "emblazoned) on. Now I have to choose me a ride, yes or no. The decision is only a few seconds later, already lost. With a few minutes' driving. We bring with us! "Comes Günter Höllig driven past us. Immediately, I join together with three other drivers. Whether coincidence or not, the place for the attack was well chosen: a few meters, it is probably the most serious increase in the round into it. Ackermann and the Luxembourg Kazakhs, we have provided fast, then it goes on. Now is where the pedal, while we have just about a kilometer reached 95th When it comes to the departure, we also have the other two drivers, which was Jan this is set, and are now down to ten men on the road. A glance at the Numbers: ok, two times 117 km, twice 140 km, the rest goes 209 km. The view to the rear promises nothing but good. Should the effort be in vain and we will put back? But the gap remains constant and does not become smaller. The first division into sections then turns and runs from Jan to the finish in a safe place overall age 2 and a sovereign victory about 117 km contrary. We are still seven of us, two of which go to the 140-km distance. A short time later, share our paths. The five of us turn to the 209 km loop. I think for the first time on the podium by: ok, the Kazakh is definitely older than me, one could also be a higher age bracket, the other two are guaranteed the road in my age group. Worst, so 4th place in the age group standings. But almost 100 km to drive. Despite continuing bad weather, I took off my wind vest. For me the sign, now cycling down. Now it's true. As we turn the second time on the big loop of the highway on a dirt road, tells me the back view, that the next group already has a relatively large gap on us. The more astonished I am, catch up when suddenly two drivers coming from behind us, almost at the same time, however, can tear down the Kazakh, what surprises me very much, because he had previously made a very strong impression. Plus two, minus one then makes a group of six riders. However, the two drivers who have just unlocked are definitely on the road in my age group. Somehow I then believe me that the group is a bit too big, and ride the next short climb with a little more pressure is high - but my hope that perhaps two or three other call, and the small group in this way is not fulfilled. No one follows me and I have a few quick seconds ahead. Yet but 90 km to go, a suicide mission to try to cover this alone km. I am also back my 70 km solo ride Trois balloon two years ago by the head, for which I had then paid at the end bitter. This error would happen to me a second time, so I take up my legs and let me catch up again. But the group also is not a real train in it, while of the six drivers involved are essentially two on leadership: a small type that strikes me above all the fact that it all, but really any increase Batt on the big push up and I can own the other only very sporadically look in the guide. In between times we get the distance to the rear by saying four minutes. Although we train is not really in it, seems to threaten the rear of no great danger. So it goes until kilometer 150 more or less uneventful over the hills of the Eifel there. Then again follows a slightly longer rise, and I try a speed tightening, the young by the driver, who all occurs on the large sheet is taken to break up the group because my slow but a few too many people just behind lie on it. In the next exit, the group then splits into two create groups of three, but the rear group is joining forces again to catch up with us. Then follows the longest increase in the round, which has already in the first round of those attacks was that led to the formation of this group. Here I try again with a pace of tightening, the group shrink. Again, I helps those drivers who seem to be missing the front derailleur, in which he continues my attack - and this time we are successful: a driver of Corratec team can break off, and we are only five of them. And in this group of five, it is also in the last loop: the small loop that was to sail at the beginning first and foremost, must still be addressed once again. Meanwhile, it is dry up and so slow even the sun can be a little look. Here is again a longer, though not particularly sharp rise. Now, again run at full throttle and this time I am the one who is struggling to hang on. The guy with the big leaf and one of two drivers who had the back open to us now are the strongest in our group. A Belgian, who had also moved out of the second group fall forward, here on this mountain, the tempo for victims, and to me at that moment the race kilometers benefit of the graduated license races, which have given me a certain race hardness. With my (almost) last I save seeds me over the hill. We have now arrived at kilometer 180 and slowly becomes apparent to me that I had not seen since the training camp in March for more than four hours at a sitting in the saddle - I'm pretty much all. In the mistaken hope that it might go the last twelve kilometers only downhill, we turn back to fourth on the way to a Gerolstein. Now I suffer from two main concerns, firstly, that I still have to tear down somewhere and bring me so the reward of my work would be and, second, that the fourth would be in league intervene but in the goal spurt, although he for 90 miles on it located just behind had. The last hill on the way back to Gerolstein be expected, a torture, but somehow I manage to hang on. On the broad main road Gerolstein is then drawn out properly in the Horn: the driver, who had come from behind us, has yet to actually connect the power on the gently sloping road 50 mph. I think that third place would be the greatest feeling that after I'm gone for about 30 kilometers only alibi like the wind. As Gerolstein is reached, piles up in front of us again on a short cast, before we had yesterday warned that Sebastian. Here attacked those who last the bulk of the leadership had made, and I can get in and after a short time to bring even a small hole between me and the two pursuers, but then I realize quite quickly that in my legs simply nothing in it. Even before the summit I will by the man with the large-sheet of outdated and. In the following I try to hang on exit, and then already reached the goal. With shouts of joy I am taken from Steffi, Jan and Sebastian reception and role as a third. Before me Sebastian Küfner at number one, who from the second group open to us, and Kai-Uwe Gerstenberger, who has probably not his derailleur to 209 kilometers operated once. A fair finish, the balance of power on the last third of the distance accurately reflect. The goal is then first a bit for the cameras, posing, and then comes already rolled Steffi, I have to console first a little, there had struck with her after 20 kilometers already cursed defect witch in the form of a puncture and you complete your race has messed up.
for myself is a dream come true - for 10 years I had dreamed of times at a ceremony on such a damned pedestal stand, and today I had finally made it. Overall
was an extremely successful weekend for the whole team: Jan overall place went 2 and No. 1 in his age group on the 117-km distance, Sebastian jumped out a sixth place overall and a third age class rank, and Steffi was able to tire failure, nearly 100 km solo ride and a wrong route line by the track officials at one of the line segments on the 117 km distance space still 9 show in the women's category. Four starters and three represented at the awards ceremony - even if that is not a great success.
The detailed results are available at http://www.gerolsteiner-radsport-festival.de/ , as a picture gallery, in which all of us represented more than once.

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spring races

in After almost 10 years of absence from racing license (a small C-factor in 2007 times Dropping the table), I was back in Schönaich at the start. My memories of this race were not the best of the variety, after all, was the 2000 edition of the year, a rainy rather have and for me at that time was after not even half of the race circuit - with horror I remember, like me shivering from the cold the rapid descent could not even really go ahead. There I was surrounded by more than 200 other riders who all looked scary well-trained. In my exuberance I had also reported the same for the ABC-race (the C-race started early for me ...), in which - as was soon to turn out wrong - assumption that at twice the race distance in comparison to the C-Class is the ABC half-way race should go solid. From the start there was only one speed: full throttle. And for me only one direction, the box back. Due to lack of experience in the field and poor performance on my part, I lost position by position. Two rounds (of 14!) Long could I save myself half way down the field over the toxic target increase came in round three then in the directions to the rise in front of me also to fall, expressed with more luck than skill somehow was able to go round. The subsequent sprint to the end of the field meant that I mentioned at the foot of the increase had nothing more to add, and consequently I lost In this situation, the connection to the field. A half-long round we have then to hasten away to the field after the fifth desperately looked before we then give to our fate. The rest of the race is quickly told and not particularly exciting: three laps, I drove my five-man group before the group was also too fast for me and depends on the increase. On principle, at least covered the distance of the C-race to have, I'm still a lap down alone, then finally deleted after a total of 7 rounds the sails.

It could therefore only be better. 25./26.04 for the weekend. Steffi and I then abruptly moved to the beautiful land of France, to start at the races in Fürth / Cadolzburg and Karbach. Both races, I knew from my first (and only previous racing season) and had a good memory. In addition, both races were as B / C race full, which - as I hoped - should correspond more my cup of tea. "Unobtrusive mitgefahren" describes these two races, in my view probably the best. In Cadolzburg I was in the sixth of seven laps times briefly at the top of the field (only to find there that it is more convenient in the field but before I ;-)), then in the final round, dropped back into midfield to me then in the final uphill sprint, and lack of a better position in the Ride, with a place to place 60 to 70 to be satisfied. The race in Karbach was similar for me, although I this race with its two longer climbs topographic and better as the race came in Cadolzburg. Another seven laps were to go, this time representing a race distance of around 120 km (Cadolzburg it had been just under 110 km). In Round 3, it was at the end of the first rise in short, a wind edge situation, I almost fell victim to, but in the next round I thought I was then already on the rise on the left side of the road to pass the increase on the leeward side. As on the previous day in Cadolzburg I also made notes with some satisfaction in Karbach that my Form was apparently at least already so far that when it hurt, it obviously at least as well as all the other hurt the pace and according to levels decreased slightly. In the last round I made the mistake then the mountain too far to take back in attack, so I suddenly found myself again at the end of the first rise in the third section of the divided box. By the second climb but we were back at the leading edge in turn, only to rise again in this easy to lose the connection, resulting in a kamikaze descent, along with another fellow. After all, these kamikaze action was successful - at the end of the exit we were back on the field it. On the remaining kilometers to the finish I felt then so good that I thought even in the final sprint into it to keep hoping for a place among the top 20 This plan was then thwarted, however, by a driver who turned over more or less directly in front of me massively. After I lost about 15 positions by the fall, I am simply just rolled in and the finish should be about space landed on 50th A little pissed that it was not enough for everything, I was then already in the target, but on the whole I was very satisfied with the two races. I wanted to go through two long road race, and I'm driven by two long road race - target reached you might say.

The next start was then at the Baden-Württemberg championships in Geislingen - another ABC-race. With a little uneasy memories of Schönaich I stood there now again in a field of almost 200 riders, hoping desperately that it would not start again so full of gas in Schönaich. One thing I had seen in Cadolzburg and Karbach: in relation to the other I built over the distance from less, I came here, apparently my good basis for good drivers as a marathon. Thus it was from the start, first uphill, and - as my wishes had been answered - the first pace was acceptable. The third was of ten rounds even for my feeling very slowly. I enjoyed it to go bike racing. With the benefit it was then suddenly in the fifth round over, as the U23 league team "Mountain Road" in front near full strength team and classifying the field completely dismantled. With sorrow and distress, I managed it myself in the field (or what was left of it then) to hold, and had only one thought: "Another such a game, and I'm gone." Lovable enough, I was in the sixth round of a little relaxation indulged in, and also the seventh lap was fast but not as fast as long, the fifth had been. Meanwhile, I noted with some satisfaction that the "field" only for about 40-existed. In the ninth, and thus coined the penultimate round, especially a thought my thinking: ". Please give me a slower round" No sooner had I thought of it, I saw at the foot of the second climb of the round Team Rothaus with five men tightened the pace . Up it went again in a series, therefore, before I felt a hole again and again, of which I finally close to any one not in a position. I drove the ninth round then too late to give me the tenth round to give it (I had slight cramps and a little bit to eat), and drew for me a mainly positive conclusions had been in a strong field, all in all races I me hold fast to the end in the 40-man head group. The shape of curve is definitely quite steeply, even if it has this time not quite enough.

The first final license races before the marathon season starts with the Gerolsteiner cycling festival for me was "Around the castle Ummendorf in Ummendorf in Biberach, another ABC-race, but you have to honestly say that, according Start list about 70% of the Starter C-drivers were, and the very strong driver of the Team Rothaus or mountain road when the team held in parallel, Bundesliga U23 race at the start were. Nevertheless, here again were 100 km, spread over 14 rounds on the plan. were per round again about 120 meters to overcome. This time it went in the fourth round of the real thing and a nine-man lead group was able to settle. I stayed behind in the field, and could at least claim the increase in the forward positions. Despite some very relaxed pace in the field (the top group had three minutes ahead very quickly), the field lap after lap was smaller, until finally only about 20 riders were left. In the final, then I am but driving like a cross between a wannabe and a fool, so I only the third to last place in my group and the 27th Space remained whole. But fun has it all! And € 10 for the premium for my 27th Course I could be happy as a little kid at Christmas ;-)

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Äch'm back!

Lance Armstrong is coming back. Ivan Basso, too. Alexander Vinokourov will also return. Since I can stand back bad.

After He pulled Trondheim-Oslo last year pretty much the tooth and also in August last year following Ötzi has not gone according to my ideas, I could last winter, not really motivate a serious preparation for 2008 follow through. And then it happened as it had to: go after any form of means, it means even less motivation to train hard, (Hello defiance where you are because if we need you once could?) resulting in less shape, etc., etc..
More than one (but beautiful!) Alpine-week tour in 2008 is therefore not jump out.




It took her a huge power of a training colleagues at the Iceman to get me back on your bike (thanks, Jan!). Suddenly it was back again, this "I can do that" feeling, the will and the willingness to torture in training, in short, the motivation to go back right wheel and not just informally to wobble around. On the miles poorest August and a comparably weak September, the most well-training October my whole Radkarriere. A little motivation using carbon fiber to me then I've also done (Thank you, Gerd ;-)), me now every night in my living room reminds them that they should have nice material, corresponding legs. The November proposal already with 22 training sessions to book (thanks to Winter Cup documented the minute :-)).

for 2009 is now only hope that I find drudgery, training and marathons and still a little time to find my blog to maintain. I am honored anyway huge amount of feedback I get for my time already, and I write to "strangers" People in the TOUR forum, because this year was going on. Thank you for this!

PS: The first "track" of the 2008-09 season, there was already, I've gefremdelt and should call me since last Saturday's unofficial RIG-champion in the 1000m individual pursuit,-P (The fact that 1000 can do so much hurt that I had never thought ...)