Eleven Racing

Start the season right!

2014-04-17T13:33:00.002-07:00

It's been a while... I'll promise that this year I'll keep the better log of what I'm doing and my races so let's get started!

I've always known from previous races and past seasons that I was a good swimmer, a great mountain biker, and a really terrible horrible runner. I had fairly good season last year, won a couple of local races had some good finishes in regional and national races, but looking back on them I could've had even better result if I had worked a little bit on my run.

So this year I'm working on my run... I know your probably thinking yeah right Mat, but no! I am serious. I am working with a coach I am very happy to say that I am getting help and it has paid off tremendously, On that note it's time to let you know about the 2014 Xterra West Championship in Las Vegas 2014.

LaGrande Xterra

2013-07-30T20:26:00.001-07:00

After the epic race at Vashon it was hard to not be anxious for the 2013 Xterra Lagrange. The distances of each leg are closer to the actual Olympic distance, the competition was out, and the 95 degree heat sure did not help.

We stayed at the lake the night before the race I had time to pre ride a section of the bike course. Enjoyed an awesome relaxing evening on the lake and got ready for the next day.

For some reason I could not fall asleep and had a pretty short night, morning came I was up and ready to roll.

Vashon Xterra 2013 season kick off

2013-07-22T10:14:00.001-07:00

I always love racing the Vashon Xterra it's the first northwest Xterra and a good way to see how your training is going. This year more the ever I have been eager to race because of my work on the run, for the past couple seasons I would train swimming and cycling, but never once put on my running shoes. This year I actually took a step back on the bike, I am now only riding two to three times a week, I am still swimming four to five times a week because I just really enjoy it, and for the first year I am running five days a week.

It was a long and painful road I have always had a hard time with consistency and enjoying running. I made myself a schedule, I varied my runs in length location and intensity. Not seen my pace drop for the first two months I got a little frustrated and started to look for a new plan when I realized that yes my times were not dropping but I was hating running less i was actually looking forward to put my running shoes on. It is not until the third month that I started to notice performance gain, all the sudden my easy long runs were at a 7 min pace and track workouts were getting to the low 5:20 min per mile. I should mention in that last month I lost a lot of weight, naturally through running, still eating and drinking the same amount if not more, but I went from 190 lbs to 175 lbs in a short three weeks. Enough about running and more race report.

I woke up in a great mood and ready to race, I picked up my friend and training partner Kevin, and we headed to the ferry. On the way over I was running through the course for Kevin, being his first time on the Vashon course. We got to the race course in time and quickly set up transition, I chose to set up away from the bike out because it got extremely crowded and the back of transition was empty. We quickly rode a lap of the bike course and had just enough time to get to the pre race meeting.

The water was in the low 60's but did not feel that cold I chose to swim in a sleeveless wetsuit, even if the water was cold the mobility of a sleeveless suit is a greater advantage. The gun went off and we all started to swim towards to first boat, I was in first place quickly but noticed that a couple guys were not far behind. The boats moved around quite a bit and made it difficult to go in a straight line, I came around the first boat and had to dive down under water to avoid two paddle boards the were perfectly place in the way of the race. Headed for the next boat I was feeling good or maybe it was seeing the huge jelly fish underneath me, i decided to pick it up. Turned around to second boat and headed to shore, the tide was out and about half way distance to shore I noticed the sand floor was extremely shallow, I swam until I could touch the floor with my hands then got up, water just under knee height I ran to shore. On my way up the steps I took a quick look to so see my lead, i was shocked so much so that I had to look again to make sure I was not dreaming, I was entering T1 yet the second swimmer was not yet out of the water. I had a great lead it was just a matter of keeping in on the bike. T1 was fast under a min, and I was gone time to shine on the bike leg.

I took my first lap fairly easy not pushing to much and recovering from the swim, on the second lap my parent shouted what I heard to be "you have a 40sec lead" I instantly thought I was loosing my lead and I needed to pick it up a little, it is not until after the race that I realized i had miss heard and i really had a 2:40 sec lead. on the start of the third lap I had a four min lead and still no second place in sight. By the end of the bike leg I had a little over six min lead on second, but now came the most crucial time of the race where I have been passed so many times before, the run leg.

I started strong and thought to myself all I have to do is maintain my lead the first km was slow as it is all up hill, the second km is fairly flat trail, I was able to relax and loosen up a little. I came to the road at the start of the 3 km and decided to push it I had a good lead and on the road I could open it up a little more. Seeing my parent cheering and my dad still yelling out splits was a great moral boost I went into the trails once again at speed and was able to keep it all the way to back to the road. I had been passed and lost first place on that last stretch of road the previous year, and was not about to let that happen again I powered through the rest of the run, finished the road section and came down the hill at full speed towards the finish line 1hour 37min, i won no one passed me on the run i was so relived my work on the run had paid off. I beat my goal time of 1:45 was able to keep my six min lead over second place. Overall a great and well executed race I was happy with all my splits and even more with my run, a great start to the 2013 northwest seasons lets see if I can keep it up.

Teach me more!

2013-03-02T22:16:00.003-08:00

Back in beautiful Morgan Hill, CA at the Specialized head quarters, this time for the master body geometry fit technian course.

Fit lab; where we spent most of the time assessing and fitting each other, the picture does not do justice to this room it's got 12 fit stations, 3of them are equipped with video analysis which makes it so much easier for the fitters and for the customer to see them-selves.

Going from the fit lab to "the cage" (demo bike area) this is the parking lot for specialized's employees

Getting ready for the lunch ride! Yes, everyday Specialized employees are strongly encourage to go for a ride to break up the day.

2013 Specialized Sworks Roubaix SL4

2013 Specialized Venge Pro

Specialized Turbo

(Unavailable in the USA, because according to the DOT any vehicle that tops 27mph must have a license plate...)

During one of the rides, must be hard to live in cali, great day in late febuary, low 70s, blue skies and sunny

Official, level two done... see you next year for the fit certification!

Tear Maker

2013-01-28T09:55:00.000-08:00

2013 Cannondale F29 Carbon Ultimate

Thank you Cannondale for producing such a fast machine, the 2013 F29 Carbon Ultimate out of the box with tubes, heavy tires, pedals and cages 18.8lbs. Comes race season I should be racing in the low 18lbs to the high 17lbs slightly lighter than its predecessor.

As usual full carbon Enve handle bars and wheels. New for this year Magura full carbon brakes, so far only good things to say to my surprise better stopping power than last year's avid XX setup.

The geometry and feel of the bike is so familiar to last years but the new hassle free and boot-less lefty is such an upgrade. With already 10 hours of ridding and 150miles on it, I have not had to reset the bearing yet, although a little stiff at first now broken in the small bump absorption is very similar to the old fork, butter smooth yet such a fast, light, stiff, responsive fork.

It's winter here in the North West, and I need to train plus the bike needed to be baptized. First rides have been cold and wet. Here are a couple of pictures of icy mud collecting on the bike looks pretty cool, although a heated front derailleur would have be nice so I properly shift!

2012 Season in Pictures

2012-12-10T13:20:00.001-08:00

Xterra Las Vegas

Not the greatest way to start the season with a flat on miles 3 of the bike, i still finished but podium was definitly out of sight.

Still found the time to relax after the race

Xterra Vashon

got passed and had to settle for second in the last 1/4 mile of the race

Second place overall very happy with a great start of the NW series

Thanks to the support of awsome friends

Took the beast to the island, $9000 dollar bike in a $700 truck, get you priorites straight!

Xterra Lagrande

pre-ride

What would i do without mom?

This pictures is not an accurate representation of how hard the climbs were on this course

Great race beautiful hot day much needed cool down.

Xterra World

700+ athletes

Rough start in the big waves

final 1/4 mile in the sand

Place 6th in World Championship (ag)

Thanks to all the great support from familly and friends which lead to an amzing season

Xterra Las Vegas West Coast Championship Twitter

2012-04-11T21:30:00.001-07:00

I am making this a twitter trip!

Follow me @ https://twitter.com/#!/matsignoretty

Check back soon for the first race report and photos of the 2012 season.

Singletrack Cycles West Side Mt. Bike Series

2012-03-23T10:46:00.001-07:00

Two races so far, nothing big but a little local series that puts you in the racing mood.
My first race was at soaring Eagle Park which is down the street from my house therefore my home turf. The trails were extremely wet and amazingly slippery. I started about 12 riders back because it was my first race of the season and I had only had the bike, my new Cannondale flash ultimate for 6 days. I quickly realized that I was in good shape and the pace was not to strong so I started to pass some riders, by the end of the first lap I was in front with Toby Swanson and Nolan Brady. Nolan took the lead right as we started the second lap and pretty quickly started to put a gap on Toby and I. I did not want to blow up and decided to keep the same pace Toby behind me assured me that we would see him again later, in the back of my head I thought “Ya, when he will lap us…” Laps two and three were pretty mellow a little bit of chatting with Toby a little bit of passing slower riders (single speed that started 5min ahead of us) At the start of lap four I caught a glimpse of Nolan up ahead on the trail and for the rest of the lap I put the pedal to the metal and slowly pulled him back. About a quarter mile to go, Nolan in front, me in second and Toby closing the rear, chatting time was over we were breathing hard and we all knew that now every little mistake we were going to make will cost us the race. Battling for first place, the pace was too high for me to pass, so I decided to stick to Nolan’s rear wheel until the straight away to the finish. When it came to the sprint men that kid is fast, Nolan who is I believe 16 years old, got a lilt head start on me coming off the single track trails, but I pushed as hard as I could go around his rear wheel we were neck and neck when we crossed the line, so close that we did not even know who won. It was not until the result came out that I found out I was in second by 0.4 of a second, Toby finished third a couple seconds behind. Great way to start the racing season, finishing right up there with the local heroes.

Results here

Cannondale Flash 29er carbon ultimate

2012-03-01T11:00:00.000-08:00

Beautiful, dream like, amazing... There are no other words to describe it the new 2012 Cannondale flash 29er ultimate is the lightest, fastest, and a most aggressive bike I have ever ridden. The bike weights in at 18.5 pounds with Shimano XTR pedals, and carbon cages. The seat and post will soon be change to make the bike lighter and more comfortable. Once that is done I expect the bike to weight just over 18.2lbs about 3lbs lighter than my first road bike, back in 2006. The frame is very similar to last year’s so it feels very familiar and natural. The wheels are probably the biggest upgrade, ENVE carbon rims make the wheels so much stiffer than before, no flex in the turns, accelerating and stopping are a breeze because the lack of rotating mass, overall a very lightweight playful wheel set. The component also are making a big difference a full SRAM XX groupo, very crisp and accurate shifting. The brakes also SRAM XX noisy but work with no problem and plenty of stopping power to throw you over the bars.

I went to the trail system in black diamond, WA for my very first ride. I joined my friend and coworker Melanie and her husband Chris for a three hour ride, even though it has been raining like hell the trails were surprisingly dry and fast. The bike handle like I was expecting it to: absolutely no problems. It took me at least a good hour to get use to weight of the bike I would constantly over shoot a corner, or compensate too much in root sections. I quickly found the right balance and was able to have a lot of fun for the rest of the ride. This weekend there is a little local race at soaring Eagle Park in Sammamish,WA, I think it time to get the bike dirty and see what I can do with it!

Got to love it!

2012-02-27T12:27:00.000-08:00

Well, Yes I had to… it was necessary: I went on a "little" shopping spree two pairs of shoes S-works MTB and specialized MTB pros. Three new saddles specialized toupe expert, pro and S-works. The S-works saddle is totally carbon and weight in at 117g; I ran that same saddle one level down (the pro) last year and was absolutely in love

with it, so I had to upgrade for this year. I also got a couple of new tires S-works Renegade 29x1.8, a new seat post and some gloves specialized XC-lite. Now left with an empty wallet I think I am all set for the season.

Cannondale CAAD 10

2012-02-15T10:42:00.002-08:00

The first bike to show up this year was my road bike, a Cannondale Caad 10 Dura-Ace; I want to thank Cannondale for such a great bike

It’s a beautiful black anodized aluminum frame with a full carbon fork and wheels, one of the lightest bike I have ever ridden just 15.9 lbs with water bottle cages and XTR mtb pedals. The ride quality is definitely different than the carbon frames I have had in the past, rough; I can feel the differences in asphalts. But man it is fast, corners beautifully, climbs like a dream, so stiff virtually no flex thanks in part to the BB30 frame and crankset. Over all a great bike in just a week I have already put 200 miles on it. Yesterday I went out on a 50mile ride thanks to my BG fit position I had no pain in my lower back, I was relax and cruised a mere 21.3 mph average for the integrity of the ride; mostly flat with rolling hills. I can t wait to get back out and start the serious training!

Specialized BG-FIT certification

2012-02-06T22:10:00.000-08:00

Thanks to Pacific Bicycle Company for sending me to the specialized headquarters for the specialized BG-FIT certification.

It’s always fun to go down to Morgan Hill California for a week and learn so much about the bike industry. A typical day at specialized starts around 8am no kidding more than half of the company commutes on bikes it’s awesome. Sit through a few hour of class and then it’s time to ride everything shuts down "it’s the lunch ride". Everyone has an hour or more(sunny days) to go out and enjoy a long ride before returning to work until 7 at night. Last February I went to SBCU (specialized bicycle Component University) for product knowledge this time I was there to get my BG-FIT certification, lots of info dumped in such little time, I gain knowledge about bike fitting but also about the human body's anatomy and kinesiology understanding how comfort is power and speed. I brought so much knowledge back to the shop as well as my certification, my first fits went very well and I am so excited to keep helping folks through the BG-FIT system.

This was right after I got fitted to the new 2012 Venge the instructors/ the guys that fitted the Saxo Bank, Quick Step, Astana teams, as well as many other professional riders, were discussing on whether or not I should go lower (drop).

Fit finished I changed frame sizes from a 56 to a 58cm, 62cm reach with a 15cm drop although not mechanically possible on the Venge; we took out all spacers and the stem was resting on the bearings and we could only get a 13cm drop... I was very skeptical of the new changes, but the two hour ride that followed the fit was a dream, no pain or discomfort and I have now recreated that fit on all my bikes.

2011 season recap!

2012-02-05T20:34:00.000-08:00

Well, 2011 was my best season so far. Now, on the crest of starting the 2012 season I just wanted to do a recap of 2011

Xterra Vashon 2nd overall 1st in age group
Xterra Black Diamond 2nd overall 1st in age group
Xterra Portland 3rd overall 1st in age group
Xterra Canadian National 24th overall 11th amateur 2nd in age group
Xterra USA National 31st overall 8th amateur 1st in age group
Xterra World 135th overall 85th amateur 8th in age group

Over all a great season, I got to enjoy some awesome races and met some amazing folks here are some of my favorite memories of 2011.

Start at Worlds massive!!!

Melissa norland, I and Taylor Seavey after the awards at nationals

Mel, I, Eric, and Carrie Xterra portland

technical mtb course at Xterra Canada

John, Taylor, Mel, and myself were able to go down for a week before nationals pre-rode, relaxed and enjoy the vacation we had quite the set-up camping by the lake which led to awesome results for everyone!

Top 3 Eric Jason and my-self checking out our Save the Date wedding invite pint glasses from Texas! hahaha what a great mixed-up

oh.. Maui...

beautiful beach run.... yeah right i was in pain!

RACING AGAISNT LANCE ARMSTRONG..... TWICE

Traveling with the Atwood familly and my buddy Sirrus!

Xterra World Championship 2011

2011-10-26T10:39:00.000-07:00

Sunday the 23rd of October started early in south Kehei on the island of Maui: woke up, had a breakfast of champion (hot cereal with fruit, orange juice, and tea). The bikes were all ready to go from the night before and all the transition bags by the door. 6am we are out the door on our way to the Kapalua resort home to the 2011 World Xterra Championship, the car ride was long and quiet exchanging a few word with my good friend Melissa Norland, we both went through the race course many times in our heads. Arriving at the race site we immediately met up with the Seavey family and John Klish (reassuring to see familiar faces). Setting up transition like the many times I had done before, except this time I had the butterflies in my stomach it was my first world competition, my neighbors on my rack did not speak English… or French. All ready for the race well rested, hydrated, energized I had a little over an hour before the race start, met up with my parents and went to their room at the hotel to apply new skin on my wounds from yesterday’s crash nothing bad, looked worse than it was, but was still stinging bad in the salty sea water. Finally, about 40min to go time to get the swim skin on and get the body moving and ready, thank you TYR for the amazingly fast suit.

All warmed up, I get back on the beach it’s about 8:50am the sun is already pounding and there is not a cloud in the sky, it’s going to be a beautiful hot day. Meet up with my friends Taylor Seavey and John Klish who are both deaf athletes and as I did for nationals I will count down for them on my fingers to let them know when the gun is going off so they don’t get a disadvantage at the start of the race.
One min to go…BOOM the gun goes off all 650 qualified athletes from all over the world and 75 pros standing on the beach run towards the sea and dive in the waves coming in. The swells were not as bad as they had predicted. Adrenaline is pumping through my body, I started swimming got kick from every angle for a good 50yards and then I was able to break away in front of the main group, 350yard to the first buoy the current was stronge and pushing most swimmers of course I was on the inside and it was impossible to hold my line and had to follow the pack. Coming on to the first buoy I got pushed in to the marker and my arm got caught on the rope. Swimmers started to swim on top of me. I thought that it… I am going to die… heck no! There is no way, fighting with the rope and getting swum over I finally got to free myself from the line and swam to the surface for a breath of air. I am alive! and mad... Decided to kick it in gear to the next buoy 150 yards made the turn this time on the outside of the pack, no way I am letting that happen again! Now back to the beach this felt like the longest leg of the swim, swam till I could get carried by the wave and then hit the sand, get up, run through the giant Xterra arch, swing left, run fifty yards in the loose sand and its back out for another lap of the swim, second lap went much smoother as the field stretch out a bit, I got out of the swim in the top sixty people which I was happy with, strong swim and I felt good with lots of energy in reserve
T1, not many athletes in transition, good! take my time, breath, and put my cycling shoes on the appropriate feet, helmet buckled… ok, time to shine, and I am off… grab my bike and run toward the mounting line. First mile was up but smooth on golf course pave path perfect time to hydrate take a GU and slide my gloves on. The next two miles were pretty technical and I took it pretty easy as I met the ground the previous day and did not want to experience that again. Mile marker three, the sign I was waiting for. From now until mile 9 it’s pretty much all uphill with a couple steep pitches where the granny gear will come in handy. I catched up to a little group in which I passed Melanie Mcquaid at the time leading the women pro field, we play cat and mouse to the top, on the way back down I decided to listen to my conscience and did not go all out as the speeds already reaching the mid 40 miles an hour on the red dirt roads, better to be careful than to end up in the hospital. Sometime the dust got so thick that I had to slow down to almost a stop to make sure I was not going to miss a turn. Mile 11, mom cheering me on telling me that I am not far from Melanie and giving me a little boost for the next two miles up that are about to come, dad a little further up the road with the video camera, I got to smile to make it look like I am having fun, rest of the course went well with no competitor in sight, thank you Cannondale for an amazing bike, the 2011 flash 29er ultimate performed like a dream once again definitely suit the course perfectly, last three miles going through the same sections of technical, twisty trails as the first three miles.

T2, Come back on the grassy fields of the kapalua resort dismount the bike and run towards my spot in transition, to my surprise only a few amateur bikes were already in the rest were all on the pro racks, hey I am doing great this is awesome, I put the race belt on with my number take off the helmet and shoes in exchange for a visor and running shoes. Alright I still feel good I drank lots on the bike I think I am good and ready for this run. Well that’s what I thought one mile down and I can feel my legs starting to seize, what I feared most! cramps, of course my body is a genius and decided to cramp literally everywhere at the same time so I must have looked like a idiot trying to still run uphill. Mile two and I still have to reach the top to 1300ft, I had to walk a full mile, my competitor and friend Taylor signed me “good bike” as he ran up past me. Finally reach the top now half way through the course and it all downhill from here well I still could not run. I walked most of the way down sometimes hopping awkwardly to try to go faster. Finally reached the bottom and the 400yard beach run… I had forgotten about that and all the spectator watching, I had to make it look like I ran so I did which was hard but made it through and finally reached the grass of the resort, around transition, up the hill and down the chute to the finish line.

3hours 7min 59 sec….. Done, what a brutal course I gave a little too much on the bike and died on the run... That where an experience racer will have the edge, but hey! it’s my first world competition! Came in 8th in my age group and 134th overall not bad for a first timer, I know what I need to work on, and will come back stronger and hungry for podium on October 28, 2012