Bike Face

... so this is how it works!

2010-09-27T16:25:00.000-04:00

Hopefully some photos will become available soon. So for those of you that prefer the picture book version (not that kind, Segal) check back in a few days.

Yesterday morning I followed my new pre-race routine. Laid in bed til around 9:30, ate food until 1:00, loaded up the car and drove to the race at 1:30. Starting at 4 PM is so luxurious.

There were a few more racers in the elite category than I expected, which was nice to see. With most of the team being in Wisconsin for the USGP it was just Rob Kendall and I on the start line for BRM. I pre-rode the course as many times as possible to try and get a feel for riding on file treads. It was the first time I had ever ridden a pair and the thought of laying the bike over repeatedly had me a little worried. It was a perfect day and perfect course for files though, so no issues there. Once during the race I managed to over cook an off-camber right hander and ended up in a nasty two wheel powerslide. Somehow I managed to stay up and was amazed to find that I hadn't ripped either tire off in the process. That was definitely a user error issue, so overall a great experience with the first race on the Grifo XS tires.

Throughout lap 1 the race stayed mostly together until I bobbled an easy corner and created a gap in front of me. This ended up being perfect for the team but I PROMISE IT WAS NOT ON PURPOSE. Sometimes idiots just get lucky. Drew Dillman and Rob Kendall got a nice gap due to my mistake and things started to separate. Rob could see that I was chasing solo so he went to the front and slowed things down. Pretty quickly I was able to catch back on making a group of three.

Our small group stayed together for the next 5 laps. I led for 2 laps after I caught back on to make sure no other racers could make it up to us. I wanted to repay Rob's favor and create a situation where we could start playing some games to try and get rid of Drew. For those of you that don't know, Drew is a 16 year old phenom. This kid is the real deal and for awhile I was seriously worried that he would take the W and leave Rob and I feeling foolish. Eventually Rob and I settled into the business at hand and started swapping attacks. I tried several times to get away but Drew was always quick to respond. With 4 laps to go I managed to get a decent gap that forced Drew to chase. When he closed it down Rob turned on the afterburners and was gone for good. Drew did his best to chase but Rob was flying and that was that. With 1.5 laps to go I attacked over a barrier and put everything in to open up a nice gap.

Much respect goes out to Drew for being a solid competitor and a great guy. He will be kicking my butt all over the place sooner than later, so I'll take it while I can get it. Now if I could only find a way to beat some of my teammates...

At this point I am looking forward to Sunday's OVCX race at Fisherman's park. This course is oh so nasty in the best ways possible and with no competing UCI races the field should be stacked. See you there!

Taking shots (of espresso)

2010-09-25T14:48:00.000-04:00

Double shot of espresso and a big bowl of BRM steel cut oats. That's how I plan on getting through tomorrow's race at Shawnee put on by the Scheller's Cycling team. It has been a solid week of training capped by a 3 hour ride today, meant to keep some endurance around as we get deeper into cross. Hopefully I don't get lapped by any juniors tomorrow! Maybe I need a quadruple shot.
Continuing with the 'recipe for disaster' theme, tomorrow I plan to race on the Grifo XS tires I just had glued up. I've never ridden file treads so you'll probably be able to find me on the ground in a corner near you! My Dugast Rhinos have arrived and will be glued up to a Revolution Wheelworks 25x wheelset as soon as it arrives. Very, very excited to be riding on some great equipment this year. I'm hoping for lots of rain for the Fishermans OVCX race on the 3rd. With all of that off camber and elevation change a mud fest would make for a great spectacle. Let's keep our fingers crossed.
On the equipment front, I should mention that my FOCUS Mares Pro has been a great bike. It has felt so natural under me and I look forward to riding it in some varying conditions (I've got it pretty well dialed for dust-bowl riding).
Time to check out the live video of USGP Planet Bike Cup (hell yes) with the legs up, eating a granola bar, and drinking a big cup of water. Bike racing is serious business!

BLAM!

2010-09-20T11:43:00.000-04:00

A major in your face weekend of cyclocross racing is in the books.

Writing complete ideas is tough, so here is the goodness from Kings Cross in bullet point format.

It was so damn dusty! Is there going to be any traction what so ever in this corner? Who cares, just go faster! Not my specialty.
Somehow I learned to start a race off properly. No more going from the first row to 20th spot in the first four corners. High five, stupid crits I did all summer!
4th on Saturday and 7th on Sunday. Prognosis: I don't suck but I don't rule. Train. Rest. Race. Repeat. I'm coming for you podium and I won't be denied. Don't make me start slashing tubulars!
Endos in the sand are awesome, as long as they are being done by Mike Kennedy and you have a nice view of it. And if the whole thing is captured in pictures. Haha... I know the feeling well, Mike.
Bob's Red Mill is awesome at CX racing. I would list team results here, but I don't want to leave anyone out. It was cool to see so many of our jerseys at the front of the races all day.
Nice work to everyone behind the Kings Cross weekend, very well done.
Friends are cool. The whole weekend was like a big party, only with slightly less booze and waaaaay more spandex.

That's that. Back to trying to get fat. I mean fast.

Nothing to complain about

2010-09-17T16:57:00.001-04:00

I'm going to be disgustingly positive for the duration of this short post, so get used to it.

This cyclocross season is already so awesome! My teammates are awesome! Apple Cross was a ton of hard work but it turned out awesome! The OVCX starts off this weekend and that is AWESOME!

The team managed to put together a fun and challenging course last weekend and the races went over smoothly. The reactions I heard from riders were overwhelmingly positive. And we almost broke even! Sweet!

On Saturday, Rob, Mike and I swept the podium. On Sunday, Ryan Knapp came to town and rode away with the win but Rob still managed second and I took third. I'm happy with how I rode last weekend. Technically I seemed more proficient than previous years and I got a good start both days.

What???? I didn't go out of the tape either day or lose twenty places at the start. I might just have a shot at a little glory this year! Kings Cross will really show us all where we fit in, so here is hoping for a smooth ride and good legs.

Mike and I have reserved a room at our cyclocross homestead, La Quinta. Only the best for professional amateur bike racers like us! Everything about cx season is good! It takes over my life this time of year and I love it!

It's been all fun and games through this week with long, steady intervals and a few hot laps through out the week. Next week things get nasty with some descending intervals!

Time to go clean the bike! Awesome!

(Did Mike Dulin write this post? Awesome!)

Photo Credit: Joe's Mom (or sister, not really sure)

Inspite of the three digit heat index

2010-08-11T23:39:00.000-04:00

It is mid-August and we are barreling down a muddy hillside towards the 40cm barriers that are cyclocross season. Grab all of the brakes your cantilevers will allow but there is no slowing down. If you already pieced together a disc brake cx bike you're just going to have to come up with your own metaphors.
As fall approaches I can admit that I am a 'crosser first and foremost. I do my best road racer imitation March through July and sometimes I even fool myself. But when August hits it is time to switch gears. Cyclocross bikes have to be rebuilt, tires have to be selected and glued, a training plan has to take shape, and so much more. I feel the real passion come back into my riding. Everything I do has a bit more purpose this time of year.
Cyclocross season is a demanding time. It mirrors the race itself. From the time the gun goes off it is non stop. Every corner has to be sprinted out of and every obstacle elegantly navigated. Of course, it doesn't always come off as cleanly as planned and that's just another great feature of the sport. You have to stay cool and react well in adverse situations. And if things ever go badly enough you can always grab a beer hand-up from a friend.
I know there are many riders out there as excited as I am for this season to get going. See you soon.

May I direct your attention to...

2009-09-30T12:45:00.001-04:00

The Bob's Red Mill/Rocky Mountain blog. Expect updates from the boat load of races the team will be taking part in as well as other fun items. Mitchell should shortly be updating with his experiences at the USGP WI. This team is awesome. We love it, you should love it, check it out.

Off The Market

2009-09-25T13:22:00.005-04:00

Since upgrading my road license in the middle of summer there has been a great deal of uncertainty concerning teams. BikeClicks/Team Louisville is a wonderful program but they are focused on developing Cat 3, 4, and 5 riders. It is something they are very good at. As a Cat 2 there just are not enough teammates at BC/TL to mount a serious challenge in the Pro/1/2 races. Racing essentially solo against teams like Texas Roadhouse is a futile gesture so I decided to look towards other options. For several months things were up in the air. As soon as I thought a good option was in front of me it would fall apart. Finally, in mid-September Fetzer extended an offer. This is just what I was looking for, so I am excited to say that I will be racing with Fetzer Cycling in 2010. I am excited to train and race with this experienced group of racers. The 1/2 roster for Fetzer in 2010 is stacked. I'm going to have to raise my game just to hang with my teammates! In the end that is what I wanted, a team that would challenge me and help me to continue developing.
It took awhile to get here, but I am pretty well set for the immediate future. Bob's Red Mill/Rocky Mountain for the 2009 CX season and Fetzer for 2010. I'm happy to be in a place where I can just ride my bike and not worry about who I'm going to race with or how I'm going to offset some of my expenses.

Stop, Hey What's That Sound

2009-09-23T12:19:00.003-04:00

There’s something happenin’ here… and it’s pretty clear that it’s awesome!

King’s CX weekend was a success by any account. The promoters put on a lovely weekend of racing, Mother Nature did her part to keep things interesting, and the racers came out in droves.

Here are a few notes from this weekend:

Red Zone and other juniors represented in major force, not only in the junior categories but in the Cat 4 and 3 categories as well. I watched one of these kids ride between and under the elbows of two adults around a 180 degree turn. No full sized racer could have fit through that gap. These kids are going to be kicking butt in the elite category very soon. We have our hands full and that is great.

The front of the elite field was flying! Mike Sherer showed he is a step ahead of the competition by winning in dominant fashion both days. My Bob’s Red Mill/Rocky Mountain teammate (kits should be in this week) Mitchell Kersting finished second both days and is very motivated to close the gap to first place. There is a lot of talent in the OVCX region and I was satisfied to hang on for 8^th each day. My goal is to hit the podium a couple of times in the second half of the OVCX, so I have some work ahead of me. Hello descending intervals!

Congratulations to Ryan Knapp! Ryan won the OVCX overall last year and I hear he is focusing on UCI races this year. He finished 7^th at Nittany Lions Cross and 4^th at Charm City Cross (right behind Adam Myerson). I’m happy for Ryan as he seems to have transitioned to the next level very well. I’m also encouraged because this shows that a rider at the top of the OVCX really is competitive on a national level. I bet we see more and more of our regional riders performing well at UCI events over the next couple of years.

If you want to see photos of the Kings CX weekend check out http://jjakucyk. exposuremanager. com/g/kings_ cross_091909- 092009.

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

2009-09-15T09:22:00.003-04:00

It has quickly become apparent. Cyclocross and I are meant to be together.

I like the flat out, all on the line racing style to which cyclocross lends itself. The tension on the start line, the excitement of risking it all through a corner, and the pain as you demand more from your lungs and heart and legs make cx season my favorite time of the year. Enjoying a fine brew with friends post-race doesn't hurt either.

One thing is certain, I didn't feel this way going into the road season or when I was gearing up to do a few MTB races. Cyclocross is something special to me and I am so ready to be consumed by it. I hope to race the full OVCX calendar and most of the Cap City races with a few non-series events thrown in for good measure. Between racing, training, and bike maintenance the next few months are gloriously packed full of cx goodness.

I look forward to seeing all of the other cx devotees over the coming months. What better way to enjoy the company of friends than with a bike race followed by a cold beer. I suggest a pumpkin ale for the time being.

Press Release

2009-09-14T08:52:00.001-04:00

Bob’s Red Mill/Rocky Mountain Sweeps Into The 2009 CX Season

The 2009 season got off to a great start for newly formed cyclocross team Bob’s Red Mill/Rocky Mountain as they filled the Heath Cross elite podium. The race took place east of Columbus, Ohio on a fast, grass course featuring multiple gravel sections and just enough elevation change.

The finishing order was determined quickly. In the first minutes of the race Mitchell Kersting moved off the front of the field through a sweeping right hand turn and never looked back. Mike Kennedy soon followed as the course turned off a gravel section and into a gradual climb. Third place finisher Chris Nevitt moved away from what was left of the field in an off camber section near the end of the first lap.

Mitchell Kersting is expected by many to be a contender for the OVCX overall title. He expressed his pleasure at the way the 2009 season is taking shape, “Things have come together nicely with the team. This is my first race on the Rocky Mountain and it felt really good. Mountain Bike Depot has made sure we have everything we need and Bob’s Red Mill is keeping us fueled for competition. We’ve got a good set up, that helps a lot.”

Bob’s Red Mill/Rocky Mountain will be racing the Kings CX weekend September 19^th and 20^th. Sunday is OVCX number one. “The OVCX is going to be very competitive this year. We know it’s going to be a big challenge and we’re looking forward to that,” offered Chris Nevitt.

Watered Down Racing

2009-07-17T10:47:00.003-04:00

Forgive me. I'm going to offend some people.
I'm hoping that typing these thoughts out will lessen my desire to throw a computer chair out of the third story window of my office.
When the f#!* did USACyling ban racing on hills! I didn't catch that in the rule book. Earlier this year the Mt. Victory KYANA Spring Series race was canceled. I shook it off and moved on. There were 10 crits in a row after that. Looking at the schedule for the rest of the season there are 3,000 crits a week in the sorrounding area. How many hard road races in the same area? Now that there is rumor of Tour de London being canceled, that number is hovering right around 0. Sure, I got a chance to do a couple of good, hilly road races this summer, but that's only because I was willing to drive 5.5 hours to do some decent racing.
Yes, I understand that crits are easier for promoters to put on because of permitting and road closures. Of course, it's easier to sit on the couch and eat Cheetos than to put on any sort of bike race. I DIDN'T THINK THE POINT WAS TO DO THE EASY THING!
Racers, you are also to blame for the homgenization and watering down of bike racing in the region! I see it every season. A promoter wil put on a hard race and you won't show up. Instead you'll go do an office park crit. I'm talking to everyone that passed on Red River Gorge this year. Sure, the course might not suit you perfectly. But for God's sake, take the challenge, drop the extra five pounds, and get your self to a real road race.
In my opinion, the purpose of bike racing is to do something hard. When cycling becomes only about doing mindless laps on a flat oval, that's my cue to exit. Please don't let it come to that. I love bike racing.

Hello, blog. My name is Chris.

2009-07-16T15:17:00.002-04:00

You might not remember me.
There is no way to describe adequately all of the events that have transpired since I posted last. No one (not even Duane) wants to read 24 race reports in a row and I don't feel like typing them. Let it suffice to say I raced all but two weekends from the beginning of March til the end of June. Over the first three weekends in June I raced nine times. There was a lot of suffering. Sweat got in my eyes and I wanted to puke. There were a lot of pack finishes and I tried my best to sprint against the big guys. It was good for a laugh. A few times I made the right break. At least once I prayed the break would finish my sorry ass off with one hard acceleration but they kept the pace just below my breaking point, allowing my suffering to continue. I won one uphill TT and finished second in a few road races.
After Red River Gorge I applied for and was granted an upgrade to Cat 2 on the road. In horror, I immediately decided to enter a three week recovery period. In the back of my mind I could hear a voice saying, "You never have to race again and you can say you were a Cat 2." Of course, I'm not smart enough to listen to that voice. This week marks my re-entry into focused training. The recovery period was just enough and I'm excited to be back at it. I'm even looking forward to workouts on the trainer. It doesn't hurt that I found a sweet deal on a used PowerTap and now have a new gadget to amuse myself with. Being able to see a graph of workout data, save that information, and compare it to older files is huge. The PowerTap won't make me faster, but I really do think it will help guide my training so that I can continue improving. A sucker is born every minute and most of them are cyclists, right?

Spring?

2009-03-02T13:30:00.000-05:00

Time just flies by. I'm told its March now and not only did I miss my monthly blog update but the Spring Series will be starting in just under two weeks. Hopefully the weather man will get the word that its time for some warmer days. BikeClicks/Team Louisville will be hosting the season opener at Long Run Park on 3/14, registration is on truesport. This is a great venue for a race. Its held on a closed park loop and is good for spectating. The course has sweeping turns, one fast down hill after the start, and a steady rise that kicks up just a bit before the finish. It is not a boring race and positioning can really mean a lot. This race has something for everyone. Last year the Cat 3s finished in a field sprint that was dominated by a Barbasol train that launched the massive Joe Klarer to victory. An hour or so later the Cat 1/2/3 race finished with Rob Bush soloing in for victory with at least a minute gap over a chase group of about 10 riders. I'm excited to see how things play out this year.
On a personal note, my training is going well. All the signs point towards this being a great year for me. But as we all know, you don't know anything until race day. The signs are also good for BC/TL, both the Cat 3 and 4/5 squads. We are all motivated to obtain some good results, now the final pieces just have to fall into place. That's the hard part.
While training is going well, I am having some equipment issues. The drivetrain on my road bike is trashed, so I have been training on my cx bike (top mount brake levers and all). I should have a new SRAM Rival drivetrain on the bike by Friday. While I love my cx bike, the new drivetrain can't come soon enough.
Also in equipment news, I have a brand new, full-carbon AeroCat MTB frame sitting in my house. It is a beautiful thing to behold. Before long it should be built up and getting dirty, at which point I will post more thoughts on the bike. I have been given a great opportunity to do some MTB racing this summer (which I'm hoping will translate to better cx riding in the fall). More to come on this later. Believe me, it needs its own post. For now, check out these pictures of my new baby.

Death Rattle

2009-01-25T11:50:00.000-05:00

Training is going pretty well. I'm in the gym 2 or 3 times a week, on the trainer doing some specific workouts after work, and getting in long rides on the weekend. Saturday was a 5 hour romp through Jefferson Memorial Forest. For any one who isn't familiar, JMF is a great training area because of the huge hills and the dogs that chase you up them. On these rides it is easy to see that a majority of the team is riding well. Logan is climbing great and James Freeman put everyone on notice that he could be the next big thing. All in all, things are coming together and I have high hopes for the road season. I haven't had any spectacular increases in fitness, but I'm doing what I can to prepare.

The bike, however, is not doing so well. The whole drive train is a complete disaster. The chain, chain rings, and cassette are worn to hell. When chugging up Pendleton in the 39x23 it sounds like someone put an iPhone in a blender. Those of you who want to know exactly what that sounds like should check out this video on youtube. I do have a SRAM Rival group on order through the SRAM grassroots program. While that means the group was a screaming deal it also means I won't have it until mid to late February. Maybe I'll ride my cross bike until then. Not only is its drive train silky smooth, but it has a 36x25. That sounds nice!

On Friday, in a rare move I purchased a non-bike-related item. A digital camera! I didn't have many chances to pull off my giant mittens to take photos on yesterday's ride, but here are a few:

This is half of the group making Flomax jokes while the other half takes a nature break.

Jon Lamar consults tribal leader David Berman before the final JMF climb.

All of my rides end with a little cyclo-cross practice.

This is my fisherman look.

F#!$ING Peanut Butter Recall!

2009-01-21T12:56:00.002-05:00

Just a quick post to let Duane know I am not dead. If I were to be dead though it would almost certainly be from salmonella poisoning. Peanut Butter is the life blood of my diet and I refuse to give it up. Contamination be damned! My house currently has Peanut Butter Crackers, Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies, and Peanut Butter Clif Bars. I'm coming for you salmonella! Truthfully, I might already have salmonella, I was awfully tired this weekend and that is my version of being sick. The girlfriend will be dry-heaving through the night and when the virus gets passed to me I feel a little lack luster and take a nap. Usually, within two days of sporadic cat naps I'm back to normal. I'm knocking on wood right now, but, seriously, I have a gift for not getting sick and right now I'm banking on it.
To put another, far nastier rumor to rest: I AM NOT GOING TO BE A DADDY AND I AM NOT GETTING MARRIED!!! Thanks, Mitchell, for creating that little gem which it seems has been bringing you joy since early summer. It seems the girlfriend's imaginary due date was fast approaching and people started to contact me about it. I found this to be pretty funny, but the girlfriend was pissed! She wants no part of child birth, even the fictitious kind, and that is why I love her. Plus, kids would totally cut into the bike budget.

Creeping into shape

2008-12-21T21:50:00.000-05:00

Training has officially commenced. It seems that most everyone who put in a full cross season has already shaken off the rest period and hit the road. Some people were back at it in just two days, I took nine days off the bike completely. How can I even call myself a bike racer? This weekend was my first ride over two hours since early September. As you might imagine, my endurance is seriously lacking. 52.5 miles on Saturday with the temperature in the upper 30s. 40 miles on Sunday at about 20F, wind chill taking it well below 10F. It was better than the trainer. Each weekend I'll be stepping up the mileage, but I'm not in a rush. My base building period is going to extend well into March. That means no Spring Series glory for me, but hopefully I'll be rolling well enough to help some teammates. The focus this year is on building power which means I will be in the gym longer than normal. Hopefully, I'll be rolling well in June and early July. After the first half of July will come a small break followed by rebuilding for cross season. Joe B. is probably right, my flogging is waiting. But maybe, if things go right I can be dishing out some of the pain in OVCX 09. I like to think I'm creeping in that direction.
Thanks to Suzanne, Steven, and Perry for riding today through the freezing wind. You have all most certainly lost your minds.

Upgrade News

2008-12-12T23:43:00.002-05:00

I was a Cat 2 road racer for a few hours. After I sent in my request for a CX upgrade from Cat 3 to Cat 2 my license reflected a slightly different change. Needless to say, I am not so disconnected from reality to think that I could parade around as a Cat. 2 roadie. In a panic I contacted USAcycling and things have been straightened out. I am back to being a Cat 3 road racer and am now a Cat 2 CX racer.

Nacho Cheese, Beer, and Memories

2008-12-12T22:09:00.006-05:00

The off season is sweet! I've drank more beer over the past five days than I had in the previous six months. Everything gets topped with nacho cheese. The hours I would normally spend on the bike are spent on the couch. Sure, this isn't how I want to live but its nice for a vacation. Obviously, I need this rest period. After Storm the Greens I was mentally and physically trashed. I barely survived the OVCX finale at Brookside. Finishing fifth place wasn't horrible but I didn't feel good about the effort I put out. I couldn't talk myself in to really suffering like I had the rest of the season. It was fun to race in the snow and I had a great time but the best feeling was after the race knowing it was time to recharge.

This year I raced from March 1 to December 7, completing 37 races along the way. Here are my top 5 memories from the road races.

5. The Panther Creek Circuit Race in Owensboro. In the final 2 km of the course I was off the front with a group of 4 and realized one of us would be the winner. The break had formed naturally: a solo rider up the road, an attack to chase him down, a few people follow wheels and someone attacks out of the chase group, and then there we were. Coming through the final turn onto the long finishing straight Keith Lucas and I gapped the other two. I started pulling as hard as I could but Lucas wouldn't come around, we both ended up sitting up and waiting for the foursome to come back together for the final sprint. I took fourth. Should have kept going. Little did I know this would be the first of many times Lucas would beat me this year.

4. Brown County State Park Road Race. This course was a beast. A 3 mile circuit: 1 mile flat, 1 mile down hill, 1 mile up hill. We are talking screaming down hill, hitting just over 50 mph. The uphill was insanely hard and we did it over and over. The road would kick up sharply for a time, ease off for just a second and kick right back up. After you made it over the big stuff there were still some little kickers, tiny but just about enough to break your will. My legs were drained after this race. They throbbed. I wanted to scream every lap but didn't have the breath. This race demanded everything from me last year. I think I did some talking with god in the last few laps. This is my kind of race. Finished 8th in 2008 and was very happy about it.

3. LMPD Criterium. This might have been my first race in a 2/3 field. It stands out because it was the first crit I ever really enjoyed. The handling skills and crazy speeds crits demand are not really my thing, so when I held my own in this race I was very pleased. The adrenaline of being in the pack through the turns was awesome. It was also a nasty hot day if I remember correctly, which I liked. With five or six to go the pack slowed to start watching each other and I found myself on the front for half a lap. This was a fun experience for me and I was not at all surprised when 30 guys blew by me as they wound up for the sprint.

2. Tour de London Road Race. I took home the yellow jersey at this race even though I finished fourth, the podium was all from out of state. The jersey isn't what stands out though. On the major climb before the finishing section of the race I felt great and that's what stands out. A group of about 8 of us made it up the climb together with others on our tail. Most everyone looked pretty wiped out but the climb hadn't fazed me. I went straight to the front and kept us moving so the group wouldn't get any bigger. I wasn't the strongest guy at this race but at that moment I was. It felt good to have finally been smart on a climb, not trying to ride away solo, instead staying with a select group and then making sure the move sticks. Even though I really finished fourth and a crash in the last corner took out Eric Barnett (who is from KY) that strong moment meant I claimed the Cat 3 KY State Championship for 2008.

1. The Tour of the Red River Gorge. A decent length time trial and a criterium on Saturday followed by the longest road race I have ever done on Sunday equals the most spectacular bonk ever. The road race was 84 miles with many major climbs and they combined us with the 1/2s at the last minute. It ended up being a great opportunity to learn how to really race and I did quite well until mile 75. Like a switch had been flipped, I couldn't put any resistance into the pedals. I finished those last miles draped over the handle bars praying to see the finish. I almost stopped at an ambulance that was at one of the road closures inside the last km, but luckily I kept going. The group I was in before I bonked had built such a solid lead that I still placed decently. Paul Martin rode away with this race with two others on his wheel on the first climb. It was amazing to see how effortlessly he sped up that climb, truly impressive.

After I have some more time to digest cx season I will post some of my top memories from that season.

The Hard Days

2008-11-19T23:53:00.001-05:00

Yesterday was a hard day.

Today's workout was easy in comparison. I had the bike strapped into the trainer and did over-and-unders for an hour and a half this evening. I climbed off the bike at 10:55 PM. Life got in the way and pushed my training back. When I finally got home from work I was tired. It took some determination to put on the bike shorts and get going but once I was on the bike it wasn't bad. Actually, I enjoyed it quite a bit. It felt good to get the heart rate up and to feel the burn in my legs. It felt good to know that I was getting my training in when I could have easily let it slip away. I thought of the people I race against each weekend. I saw myself passing them as we hit the finishing straight, still strong at the end of the race. And I know some of those competitors were on their bikes today, pushing themselves and beating me in their imaginary race. We share the same sickness which is why I like them so much.

Yesterday was hard because there was no biking. It was a rest day. The heart rate remained low, there was no profuse sweating, my legs didn't burn, and there was no gasping for air. The only solace I could find was that supposedly taking it easy will make me faster. At least, that's what coach says.

I don't do well with time away from the bike or away from competition. Which is why I have decided to skip my off weekend and travel up to Columbus for the next OVCX race. The thought of everyone racing without me was driving me crazy. This weekend will see a change of pace, though. Since I don't want to get up well before the crack of dawn to make the B race I will be entering the A race. This will be my first time mixing it up with the big boys so wish me luck. I'll be sure to report on all of the carnage.

Buying Speed

2008-11-14T18:50:00.003-05:00

Most racers are the same. We're always looking for a way to move faster. Sure, training harder with what you've got makes a difference but the real juice only money can buy. No, I'm not talking about CERA or any other fancy chemical cocktails. Those products are for much faster douche bags than I. Can you imagine how sad it would be to still get beat by Keith Lucas in the local Cat. 3 race while on EPO? I'll stick with my coffee, thanks.

All racers do love to buy speed, though. Tom Boonen supposedly has been doing it at swanky European discotheques and I know all of my friends have been doing it at the local bike shop. Some of my more intelligent cohorts have made purchases that promise more speed without more work. Doug and Brian of lovethepain have both just purchased shiny new cx frames. A nice, solid speed for cash transaction. I, however, have gone about things the hard way. Yes, I am dumb enough to fork over my hard earned cash for things that only promise to help me work harder if I want to go faster. A convoluted cash for speed transaction.

First, I got a coach. He's mean and drinks a lot, so I'm expecting good things. A lot of people might think this is a silly expense but it makes sense for me. I want to have confidence in a structured program that will help me get the most out of my body. Ten days in it feels like I'm actually training and not just riding around in circles. Last year I was always questioning my training program which made it hard to stay committed. Needless to say, I'm looking forward to improving over the next year.

Second, I got a new trainer. My second-hand Nash Bar trainer just wasn't cutting it anymore. To get any resistance I had to be in the 53x11 which did have the positive side effect of making me look much stronger than I actually am. Since it gets dark at 5:30 I've been getting to know the new trainer pretty well. Thanks to season 1 of Flight of the Conchords on dvd it hasn't been too bad. The only downside is that laughing when your HR is 190 can be horribly painful. Please, check out this link If You're Into It. I demand it.

Yellow Springs

2008-11-12T19:40:00.000-05:00

Sunday was OVCx #9, the John Bryan Classic, held just outside of Dayton.

Here are some highlights from the event:

It was freaking cold. With the temperature tucked just under 40F warming up meant sitting in the car with the heater on full blast. I wanted to make fun of Keith Lucas' warm-up, which consisted of hopping up and down in place and cursing under his breath, "shit, it's cold" for about twenty minutes, but I can't because he beat me. Next time I might have to try that.

I almost got beat by a Red Zone kid. Masters racing can't come soon enough for me because these juniors are about to serve the racing scene a huge portion of whoop ass. Nice work Andrew Dillman, after winning your juniors race you still had me running scared.

Tom Brockman got second in the Cat. 3 race again. Oh, Tom, where did you come from and why do you want my spot in the series standings? I finished in fifth which was a little disappointing. I need to be more aggressive concerning positioning, especially when approaching single track. Let's just say I think I could have ridden with positions 2-4 if I hadn't let that door close on me in the first lap. The rest of the top spots: 1st Keith Lucas (really?), 2nd Tom Brockman (let me be!), 3rd Chris Mayhew (go sideburns!), 4th Lee Hauber (I have a feeling the shit talking will now resume), 5th Me-self.

Ryan Knapp is rolling fast. A group of three chased him around the entire A race but there was no catching him. Pretty soon Mike Purvis, Mitchell Kersting, and Isaac Neff were racing for second. Isaac showed his skill by pulling away from the Barbasol duo in the last lap. Mike Purvis finished off the podium. The A race is fast and I look forward to racing it... next year.

Mike Kennedy managed to gouge a solid chunk out of both of his shins, supposedly from a slipped pedal. How he hit both shins I have no idea. But good work, Mike. And good work, cold. The temperature was low enough to prevent massive bleeding and to help numb the pain.

All in all it was another great race. The turn out was solid, the course was good, and things seemed to run smoothly. Hey, I even won a mountain bike tire! Now all I have to do is buy a mountain bike!

Lexington is up next week and with the way it is raining outside it should be the first real sloppy race of the series. Maybe I'll go out tomorrow and try to learn to handle a bike.

Here are some random pics:

The podium at Gun Club Cross

The barriers at John Bryan

The List

2008-11-03T19:22:00.000-05:00

First off, I won't be able to hide it for long so I might as well come right out with it. I have delusions of grandeur. No, the fact that I'm 24 (approaching over the hill in cyclist years) and have been stunningly mediocre in all of my pursuits to date doesn't stop my dreaming. Here is a list of my top goals that you can use to ridicule me at your convenience:

5. Get a cool haircut -- This goal has proven particularly elusive as I have a funny shaped head, but hopefully one day it will happen... before all of the hair goes.

4. Lobby to have gambling on CX legalized -- Seriously, what would be cooler than having tons of drunken fans betting their life savings on races that were fixed by the mob. It would be just like Europe, only with less mayonnaise.

3. Move somewhere hip like Portland or Boulder and get a dog -- I love making fun of hipsters, so why not move to hipster central. The dog will be there when I need someone to have an intelligent conversation with.

2. Learn to speak multiple languages -- Indiana Jones proved that being multilingual is super cool. Enough said.

1. Get paid to ride my bike -- Sure, there are local racers that are stronger, faster, more talented, and younger than me. But, I'm no slave to reality! Screw the odds, I'm going for this one. So, check back in a few years... I'll probably need to borrow some money.

Yup, I said it. I want to go pro, at CX no less. To steal a phrase that Barack stole from his crazy Pastor, "the audacity of hope" can draw a lot of scorn from bitter individuals. You can think I'm crazy, I know I am, but try not to hold it against me. Everyone is entitled to a bad idea.