[MtnbikeMike]

Sitting in the hotel in Bisbee, AZ, just back from a Prologue/TT course preview for the stage race here. Tomorrow we have a 1.8 mile prologue, which is a steady climb and kicks up near the finish. Saturday is a 90 miles road race with a 7.2 mile TT in the afternoon. Sunday is an 84 mile road race. It should be fun, as United Healthcare and Fly V Austrailia both have full teams registered.

It's a bit chilly here, and there is a solid 30 mph wind and scattered showers.

After Bisbee we head to Gila, which has a stacked field(Lance et al.). Should be fun.

I'll update this thread after each stage, and I'll add pics once I get them uploaded; the scenery here is pretty sweet.

Seacrest out

 

[loco-gringo]

I rode with my homie that won the 2s last year at the Gila today. He's stoked to be in the pro peleton in a big race.

You racing 1s, Mike???

 

[MtnbikeMike]

Yep, and just like your homie, I'm stoked to be racing the big boys

 

[CBJ]

Cool - I send United Healthcare money every month so the better do good. Snap a picture or two if you get the chance.

 

[ire]

Good luck!

 

[maddog17]

good luck!

 

[ire]

Did you get 15th or 50th? Those were the two Mikes I saw in the results

 

[MtnbikeMike]

50th

Probably shoulda used my road bike, instead I opted for the TT bike.

Just finished the RR, it wasn't too bad. Now I gotta rest for the "real" TT.

 

[loco-gringo]

Coppin is my buddy. Look for him at the Gila.

 

[MtnbikeMike]

I'll keep an eye out for him. What team does he race for?

I had a pack finish today in this morning's road race. There was a break up te road that our team missed. I took 35th in the afternoon TT, which moved me up to 38th on GC.

Hopefully I'll be able to hang tomorrow, we shall see.

I snapped some pics, just need to upload them.

 

[MtnbikeMike]

Well I'm now here finally in Silver City. Sunday's road race was easy but hard. Our team's plan was to get in a break, because the yellow jersey had a huge lead and we figured Fly V would let a break go. I attacked a few times in the opening 20 miles, as did a couple of my teammates. Once I was back in the group, I noticed my front brake was rubbing on the rim. I tried to reposition it, but it went back to its same spot; it had come loose. Fvck.

Eventually, a teammate got off the front, and a few guys bridged up, so the pressure was off me to get in a break and I was able to try and figure out the brake situation. A bunch of riders stopped for a nature break, so I saw my chance and flagged the wheel car down...which didn't have an allen key. Balls. Back up to the group I went. The course was rolling for the majority, but had a 5 mile climb, which blew the race up in the closing miles. I got dropped near the top of the climb, and was able to find a group to descend with into town. I felt like I could have stayed with the leaders, but with Gila still looming, and the brake issue, I sat up. The final straw was when I heard the brake dragging on the rim, more of a mental thing probably, but it killed my motivation.

When we finished, I picked up my wheel and gave it a good spin and it stopped after about half a revolution. Not sure how much drag the translated to, but it still sucked. I ended dropping to 43rd on GC.

And, with no further ado: pics!

The whip

Loading up.

Riding through town. The prologue and both road races started here.

The team at the top of a climb

The town has some pretty cool buildings

We also prerode the TT course

There is a B on the hill for some reason

The town used to mine copper, silver, and turquoise. Mining operations were halted in 1976 when the value of copper dropped.

Another shot of the B

The town of Bisbee from above

The day of the prologue, we woke up to this; luckily we had another 10 hours 'til the race start.

The mine pit just south of the town

Here is a shot headed into Silver City, right near the turnaround for the out-and-back TT course of Gila.

An old log cabin near downtown Silver City

Our accommodations weren't quite ready when we got into town yesterday, so we parked at a park and went for a spin.

We just got back from riding the TT course. It's gonna be effing hard. Tomorrow's stage is a rolling 94ish mile road race that ends with a 6 mile climb that tops out at 19% in one spot.

 

[James]

I approve of this thread, and will be back for more.

 

[loco-gringo]

JD races for Black and White.

The big "B"...just guessing, but perhaps it's for Bisbee.

 

[MtnbikeMike]

JD races for Black and White.

The big "B"...just guessing, but perhaps it's for Bisbee.

That's what I thought at first, but then I figured that was too easy. It's probably to signal Batman, or the Bike Religion team.

Good guess though

 

[loco-gringo]

It's like some weird southwest thing. Alpine, TX has a big "A". I'm thinking, how can I not know I'm in Alpine??? Weird deal for sure. It's like, look at me, I can make letters with rocks. Or one letter anyway.

I'll be watching news on you two this week. Good luck, Mike.

 

[loco-gringo]

How's it going out there, Mike??? JD is finding those "brisk" winds and racing without a team is quite brutal.

 

[MtnbikeMike]

Yeah, to say the least it hasn't gone as expected. I'll give a more detailed report after the TT tomorrow. Pics too

 

[CBJ]

Thank you for the great pictures. Cool looking place except for the snow.

 

[GravityFreakTJ]

Mikey, if you happen to see Justin Spinelli (ex Saeco, Kelly Benefits) tell him his stem is to short. He's riding for team pista palace