Club News 
From the Training Log of Buck Miller
Posted: September 9, 2006
Shane Lavell asks Buck some in-depth questions about Team Fiordifrutta and how he got into cycling.
BM) It's going great. I'm really comfortable at Fiordi. We're a very respected team in the US. There are many former Fiordi guys on pros teams like Health-Net, Navigators, Colavita and a few others, so we don't get pushed around in the pack much. We're directly sponsored by Cannondale. And as 2 of my managers are high in the ranks of R&D engineering, we have all of the best equipment. All of the riders are good strong guys that you can count on 100% of the time, so it's a great team to be on.
BM) It's different, that's for sure. On Jetfuel, we had more trips to Europe, doing professional races, and if not, we were in Ontario racing the O-Cup. That's kind of all over the map. It's hard to adjust to that level and then go back to Ontario. On Fiordifrutta, we race on a much more consistent program, with the hardest races being an NRC crit, or a 3-4 day stage race, so it's a little easier to see improvements. When you go from the O-Cup, to a big UCI race with loads of pros, sometimes you can be in top form and not get better than 10th. So, it's an interesting switch.
BM) Making the break at the Nationals was a bittersweet thing. I've always wanted to pull off a good ride there, and you only get one shot a year. I came out of Beauce with good form, and managed to get sick with allergies and an ear infection that put me on drugs and off the bike for a good while before Nationals. So I used my head to get me in the winning break at the Nationals.
I raced hard early because I knew that's when it was going to go. So I got in the move and with about 30k to go, I started to feel the effect of the illness and time off the bike. I got dropped with 3 laps to go. But I'll remember that, and use it to fuel some hard training this winter and try again next year.
As for making the National Team, I've always wanted to represent Canada since I was 16, and it was a great honor. It wasn't easy though. Getting the call for the National Team when you’re already 23 is pretty rare, as you’re past the "U23 development" point. So I went to China, and rode hard every day to show them that I wanted to be there, and was worthy of wearing the maple leaf. I think I did a good job considering the bad travel plans we were handed last minute. I don't think it was a one time only thing, I'll be sticking my foot in the door a few more times.
BM) The ToS was a big goal on my schedule. I wanted to be ripping fit for that race as I've proven I can stage race in the past. My preparation for ToS was going well. I was in California in the spring, suffering through the races there according to plan. On stage 2 of the NRC race Central Valley Classic I got hammered with a bug, and I was sick from then on for over 2 weeks.
It took me over a month to start feeling "normal" on the bike again. And at the start line of ToS I was just starting to come around, but when it really mattered in the race over the climbs, I was lacking. So for the stage 2 crit at ToS, I just used my head and a few elbows to get me to the line for 3rd. The good thing about having some natural speed is you always have it. No matter what, you can always be good for 200m.
BM) That was one of the strongest rides I've witnessed on a bike, for sure. What we were doing was setting up Mike Cody for the field sprint, as he already won the first points sprint for the green jersey. So I put all the boys on the front, with 5 laps to go, and we started the lead-out. I was sitting 4th wheel, with Dillon, Timmerman and White in that order on the front. Dillon was taking double and triple pulls, and gapped White, who was 3rd in line, I yelled to White, "LET'EM GO!!” White sat up, and Dillon pulled Timmerman off the front to a 9 second lead with just less than 4 laps to go.
Dillon sat there pulling Timmerman for the next 3 laps, and Timmerman never took a pull. Behind, the pack was killing itself to try and get across, but we kept sitting on everything. With about 425m to go, Timmerman jumped off Dillon and held off the hard charging pack with a bike length over Zach Bell (an old Jetfuler) and myself for the win. Dillon rode like 10 men that day. His good form had everyone talking about his ride. It was as Pro as it gets. Dillon went on to win the 4th and hardest stage of the race too, so he got his payment for sacrifice.
BM) I met a friend in grade 7 who was into bikes. Nothing serious, but he bought the odd magazine and rode his bike all over town. I started hanging around him, and we soon were riding our $100 Canadian Tire bikes all over town, more as a means of transportation, and a faster way to get to our friends house or the Chippewa bridge for a swim.
My Dad soon took notice of the amount of time I was spending on my bike and looked around for some sort of race or event I could do. The first organized event I did was the Pedal 100. My Dad is the "go big or go home" kind of guy, and he put me in the Pedal 100 miles at 13 years old. At the time I had never spent more than 30 minutes on a bike without getting off for an ice cream or a pop on my way to Chippewa. He came home and told me about it and I was all for it. But we needed a "10 speed". So he borrowed a junker from a friend. I did the ride in 9 hours or so. My dad's friend came with me, Craig Makpiece.
Looking back, I can't believe he rode with me for 9 hours. I would have killed me if I was him! After that event I was pretty hooked on biking, and got a better bike (CCM Ice mtb), and then did the Squeezer. The spring of ‘97 I started racing the O-Cup Mountain Bike Series as a Cadet Sport, and that was that.
BM) Next up is the Chris Thater Memorial NRC crit in Binghamton NY, a super fast hard crit with a top US field. After that the next big goal will be the Track Nationals. If my preparation is up to speed, I'll go there and try to snag a medal in the points and scratch races. Then the Univest GP will close up the season. That’s a great one day that I've always done well in. I'd like to get a good result there this year.
BM) I'm still young in terms of years on the bike, and I'm always listening close to the "old boys" in the club, so I'll say two things. 1) Listen to the "old boys". My Dad always told me, "You have two ears and only one mouth for a reason" and 2) “Never waste an opportunity."
So many racers are content with just being there, in the pack, and never really let it out, and take a chance. That's not good enough. The best cyclists show up to RACE their bike, not pay $30 for a group ride with no traffic.
MONDAY- Jan 9 - 5 hours steady - 150k
TUESDAY- Easy day - 1.5 hours - 36k
WEDNESDAY- 5 hours - 2/20 minute efforts at 250watts w/ 10minutes rest. - 160k
THURSAY- 3.5 hours steady - 115k
FRIDAY- 6 hours - w/ 3/8 minute 53/12 uphill intervals, low cadence. - 190k
SATURDAY- Easy day, - 1 hour, 25k.
SUNDAY- 5 hours - 53/17 - 157k
I normally train 3 days on - 1 day off.
Buck, this year sees you riding with an Eastern US-based Team Fiordifrutta, how are things going?
BM) It's going great. I'm really comfortable at Fiordi. We're a very respected team in the US. There are many former Fiordi guys on pros teams like Health-Net, Navigators, Colavita and a few others, so we don't get pushed around in the pack much. We're directly sponsored by Cannondale. And as 2 of my managers are high in the ranks of R&D engineering, we have all of the best equipment. All of the riders are good strong guys that you can count on 100% of the time, so it's a great team to be on.
The last few years have seen you riding with the Ontario-based powerhouse Jetfuel Coffee squad out of Toronto, Canada. How does the change south of the border compare?
BM) It's different, that's for sure. On Jetfuel, we had more trips to Europe, doing professional races, and if not, we were in Ontario racing the O-Cup. That's kind of all over the map. It's hard to adjust to that level and then go back to Ontario. On Fiordifrutta, we race on a much more consistent program, with the hardest races being an NRC crit, or a 3-4 day stage race, so it's a little easier to see improvements. When you go from the O-Cup, to a big UCI race with loads of pros, sometimes you can be in top form and not get better than 10th. So, it's an interesting switch.
After a few years struggling to get the Buck Miller name out there, the past few months have yielded some interesting results. First you made the winning break at the National Road Cycling Championships this past July in Quebec City, and then you finally got the monkey off your back and obtained your first National Team project call. How did this affect you mentally and what do you think this will yield for the future in terms of National Championships and National Team projects?
BM) Making the break at the Nationals was a bittersweet thing. I've always wanted to pull off a good ride there, and you only get one shot a year. I came out of Beauce with good form, and managed to get sick with allergies and an ear infection that put me on drugs and off the bike for a good while before Nationals. So I used my head to get me in the winning break at the Nationals.
I raced hard early because I knew that's when it was going to go. So I got in the move and with about 30k to go, I started to feel the effect of the illness and time off the bike. I got dropped with 3 laps to go. But I'll remember that, and use it to fuel some hard training this winter and try again next year.
As for making the National Team, I've always wanted to represent Canada since I was 16, and it was a great honor. It wasn't easy though. Getting the call for the National Team when you’re already 23 is pretty rare, as you’re past the "U23 development" point. So I went to China, and rode hard every day to show them that I wanted to be there, and was worthy of wearing the maple leaf. I think I did a good job considering the bad travel plans we were handed last minute. I don't think it was a one time only thing, I'll be sticking my foot in the door a few more times.
Buck, we had the chance to spend some road time together earlier this year when we went to the Tour of Shenandoah together just after your return from your winter training stint in Arizona. Can you detail what was going on at that time with Buck Miller in terms of training till now? You stated things weren't well at ToS but still managed a good result (3rd) in the Harrisonburg Criterium on day one of the event?.
BM) The ToS was a big goal on my schedule. I wanted to be ripping fit for that race as I've proven I can stage race in the past. My preparation for ToS was going well. I was in California in the spring, suffering through the races there according to plan. On stage 2 of the NRC race Central Valley Classic I got hammered with a bug, and I was sick from then on for over 2 weeks.
It took me over a month to start feeling "normal" on the bike again. And at the start line of ToS I was just starting to come around, but when it really mattered in the race over the climbs, I was lacking. So for the stage 2 crit at ToS, I just used my head and a few elbows to get me to the line for 3rd. The good thing about having some natural speed is you always have it. No matter what, you can always be good for 200m.
Sticking with Day one at Shenandoah, I witnessed one of the most bizarre bike racing tactics that night with two of your current teammates Dan Timmerman and Josh Dillon in the Final of the Criterium in Harrisonburg. Can you tell the readers exactly what I am talking about, because I am still speechless on that one.
BM) That was one of the strongest rides I've witnessed on a bike, for sure. What we were doing was setting up Mike Cody for the field sprint, as he already won the first points sprint for the green jersey. So I put all the boys on the front, with 5 laps to go, and we started the lead-out. I was sitting 4th wheel, with Dillon, Timmerman and White in that order on the front. Dillon was taking double and triple pulls, and gapped White, who was 3rd in line, I yelled to White, "LET'EM GO!!” White sat up, and Dillon pulled Timmerman off the front to a 9 second lead with just less than 4 laps to go.
Dillon sat there pulling Timmerman for the next 3 laps, and Timmerman never took a pull. Behind, the pack was killing itself to try and get across, but we kept sitting on everything. With about 425m to go, Timmerman jumped off Dillon and held off the hard charging pack with a bike length over Zach Bell (an old Jetfuler) and myself for the win. Dillon rode like 10 men that day. His good form had everyone talking about his ride. It was as Pro as it gets. Dillon went on to win the 4th and hardest stage of the race too, so he got his payment for sacrifice.
Buck can you tell us how you got going in the sport?
BM) I met a friend in grade 7 who was into bikes. Nothing serious, but he bought the odd magazine and rode his bike all over town. I started hanging around him, and we soon were riding our $100 Canadian Tire bikes all over town, more as a means of transportation, and a faster way to get to our friends house or the Chippewa bridge for a swim.
My Dad soon took notice of the amount of time I was spending on my bike and looked around for some sort of race or event I could do. The first organized event I did was the Pedal 100. My Dad is the "go big or go home" kind of guy, and he put me in the Pedal 100 miles at 13 years old. At the time I had never spent more than 30 minutes on a bike without getting off for an ice cream or a pop on my way to Chippewa. He came home and told me about it and I was all for it. But we needed a "10 speed". So he borrowed a junker from a friend. I did the ride in 9 hours or so. My dad's friend came with me, Craig Makpiece.
Looking back, I can't believe he rode with me for 9 hours. I would have killed me if I was him! After that event I was pretty hooked on biking, and got a better bike (CCM Ice mtb), and then did the Squeezer. The spring of ‘97 I started racing the O-Cup Mountain Bike Series as a Cadet Sport, and that was that.
With the season winding down what’s next for Buck Miller?
BM) Next up is the Chris Thater Memorial NRC crit in Binghamton NY, a super fast hard crit with a top US field. After that the next big goal will be the Track Nationals. If my preparation is up to speed, I'll go there and try to snag a medal in the points and scratch races. Then the Univest GP will close up the season. That’s a great one day that I've always done well in. I'd like to get a good result there this year.
I thank you for your time Buck. Just one last thing before we shut it down. SCC focus has turned towards the youth. If you could say one thing to them what would that be?
BM) I'm still young in terms of years on the bike, and I'm always listening close to the "old boys" in the club, so I'll say two things. 1) Listen to the "old boys". My Dad always told me, "You have two ears and only one mouth for a reason" and 2) “Never waste an opportunity."
So many racers are content with just being there, in the pack, and never really let it out, and take a chance. That's not good enough. The best cyclists show up to RACE their bike, not pay $30 for a group ride with no traffic.
Lastly, your Training Log. Show us a sample week.
MONDAY- Jan 9 - 5 hours steady - 150k
TUESDAY- Easy day - 1.5 hours - 36k
WEDNESDAY- 5 hours - 2/20 minute efforts at 250watts w/ 10minutes rest. - 160k
THURSAY- 3.5 hours steady - 115k
FRIDAY- 6 hours - w/ 3/8 minute 53/12 uphill intervals, low cadence. - 190k
SATURDAY- Easy day, - 1 hour, 25k.
SUNDAY- 5 hours - 53/17 - 157k
I normally train 3 days on - 1 day off.