Not Feelin' the 'Cross Love & an Announcement

Seems like there are rogue squirrels (and Canada geese) everywhere lately - but I prefer the killer bunny of Caerbannog

We in the Midwest had the opportunity to race 'cross this past weekend and I let it go. I just wasn't feeling the 'cross love and I was out of embrocation so I did the next best thing: I didn't race and just did the weekend group ride with the boys. It was definitely the correct choice for me. 'Cross is still fun, I just needed a weekend away. I'll be back at it next weekend, after the daylight savings time change and an additional hour of insomnia. I do, however, need to send HUGE congrats out to my Verdigris teammate June who won the women's race and to the Verdigris guys who owned the (very windy) day - Well done, everyone - I'll see you next weekend in St. Charles.

Doing the Judson ride is not altogether devoid of anxiety - there are a lot of strong boys that come out and like to hurt themselves and each other (you know who you are...). I sort of hang on for dear life and hope to make it to the end at times. I feel guilty about not taking lots of pulls at the front but doing so could end my ride early - this ain't a no-drop ride. In fact, I suspect the goal of some is to shell as many guys as possible before we reach Fort Sheridan on Chicago's North Shore (again, you know who you are). Fortunately I am strong enough to survive to that point and can hold my own pretty much from there on but I definitely tend to have some painful moments along the way.

I suppose now would be a good time to make an announcement of sorts regarding my plans for next season on the road. We all know that I am no longer part of Kenda. Being with that team was mostly fun while it lasted but things have changed and I have changed so the parting of ways is definitely a good and positive thing for me and my racing. It becomes exhausting to always be required to live up to the expectations of others on the bike - that can make it anything but fun. Racing was expensive the past few years and I really no longer care to shell out lots of money to do the same races season after season. I will definitely miss my teammates but I've taken some good memories away from the time we spent together.

For 2009 I will be racing for a well-supported local team comprised mainly of masters athletes - really strong ones including national and state champs, a multiple-time world silver medalist, some monster time trialists and all around good people who prefer have fun with racing the bike and having a real life. I am proud, thankful and appreciative for the opportunity to race on the road with PACT- Dishnetwork for 2009. I may opt for composite team representation in some NRC races but most everything else will be for PACT, a place where I am comfortable and feel valued for my strengths as a rider and as a person.

That's about all I have to say for now - isn't it enough? As always, thanks for reading....

Wow - VeloNews!!

Check it out here. And here too!! That Imelda - she's a PR machine!!

Not So Dirty - Carpentersville 'Cross

The very best, most excellent part of today's 'cross race in Carpentersville was the DRY course - no mud!! That made me verrrrry happy. I've done the Carpenter Park race twice in the past with reasonable success so I was cautiously optimistic that I could have a decent finish, depending on who decided to show up and what the course would be like. Temp at start time was probably in the mid to upper 50s and the dewy grass had dried out nicely after the masters races - my kind of cross weather. We had a fair amount of wind and it seemed to get stronger as the day progressed.

The new Carpenter Park course absolutely does not suit me. It was nice that laps took longer as they'd added a lot of new elements using the same park but many of those 'elements' were u-turns, not good for my current level (read: absence) of technical skill proficiency. There was a barrier/gully combination that forced a dismount and a pair of barriers at the bottom of a short run-up but the remainder was totally rideable - even the sandpit was completely tame this year. New this year also was a short pavement stretch (with a u-turn) and a small off-camber section before a longish grass stretch.

Since I've decided to race 'cross for fun this season I have to admit that my devotion to the tasks associated with warming up and pre-race preparation has been lacking. I was able to take two slow course inspection laps before applying embrocation and spinning around a bit while watching the guys. Oh yeah - I was really ready to go when Marek blew the whistle. June and I were representing for Verdigris today with maybe a dozen others who came out for what was sure to be great fun. Standing on the line with us was the perpetually strong current national champion Rebecca Much who I found out has been added to the development program for the 2012 Olympic team - this is a fantastic thing as she is a true talent and a genuinely good and nice person.

I knew I was in for a battle when I missed my clip in and ended up sitting too far back in the very beginning stages of the 45min race. Rebecca got the hole shot and was accelerating hard out of all the early u-turns. This sort of hosed me - I had to work through a bunch of riders before finally getting clear of everyone somewhere on the second lap. From there things seemed to settle in nicely. I was able to keep the gap to Rebecca pretty reasonable (typically 10-15sec per the guys on the course) and not really torch myself to do it until I dropped my chain on the run up with about 2 laps to go. I lost a fair amount of time when that happened and the gap grew to a degree that I wouldn't be able to close in time for the finish.

So I was first loser on the day. An acceptable finish because really, I worked hard but I didn't bury myself too horribly, suffer that badly and I didn't break a nail or fall off my bike a single time (yay!!). June rode strong and stayed steady, passing Holly, finishing a solid third on the day and holding onto the lead in the series - another fine showing for the Verdigris women. I didn't linger after things were over so I don't know how all the Verdigris guys did today but I'm pretty sure the Pony Shop boys scored some impressive results in the masters races - well done gentlemen!!

I know there were a bunch of cameras out there so check back later in the week for updates, photos and links to the good stuff.

Dirty Things - Hawthorn Woods 'Cross

My bike was really, really muddy after I finished. I was even more muddy.

I had a weak moment and decided that yes, I am indeed going to race some 'cross this fall. Today was my first stab at the Chicago Cross Cup - the third race of the series held in Hawthorn Woods, not terribly far from the city. It needs to be noted here and now that taking my bike off the hook in my bike room yesterday was the first time I'd so much as touched it since having it overhauled at the Pony Shop more than a month ago. That's right - not a single practice or even a pavement ride. I was rightfully nervous given that I understand the competition at 'cross cup races has been pretty good this year. Honestly, my biggest concern was that I not wreck and hurt myself - self-preservation at it's finest.

I was representing for Verdigris with June on the line with 8 others. The course was actually pretty good and it suited me well. Not sure how long it was but it was mostly flat with lots of grass, some pavement sections, a barrier, an off-camber section that turned into a mud pit (ick), and the premier feature - the sledding hill that we had to climb, descend, jump a barrier then climb and descend again. I was stuck starting in the back since I've accrued no series points which turned out to be a good thing - I was able to sit in for the first lap, ramp up the pace gradually then open a gap at the beginning of the second trip up the sledding hill.

After the second and third laps I settled in and was able to keep an eye on what was happening behind me at various points along the course. June shook off Holly and was sitting 2nd which ended up being how we finished. I even got some inches on truesport.com! The Verdigris men also earned a bunch of top finishes - a great showing for our team today!

Dirty girls post-race (yep - that's mud on June's arm - ick).

I only bit it once when with 2 laps to go an unfortunate Cat 3 guy I'd caught went down in front of me - IN THE MUD. Nice. I was covered - there was mud on my face, on my teeth, in my hair, in my ears....you get the idea. The highlight of it all? I managed to finish the day with all fingernails intact (yes, there was mud under them).

The Pony Shop guys were out tearing it up today too - check out their blog here. Also, Chloe Kuhn got some great shots of the 30+, 40+ and 50+ men's races - see those here. Extra special thanks go out to Roman and Mark who sat on the hill eating pizza and cheering us on through the suffer-fest.

I have to send a 'kick ass dude!' shout to Mike Wakeley who had some great finishes in the Cincinnati area over the weekend. He's really hitting it hard this 'cross season and doing well - way to go Mike!!

What I'm reading right now 'Bluebeard' by Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. What I finished, 'Fight Club', 'Fugitives and Refugees' and 'Rant' by Chuck Palahniuk. Up next - dunno!! Maybe some Steinbeck, John Irving or more Vonnegut. As for music, I've been in this jazz mood lately but I'll need to come up with a playlist for next weekend's warm up so I'll post it once I've finished it.

Final Road Event for 2009 - Fall Fling Time Trial

Post-TT cupcakes - yum...guys, are you wearing them or eating them?

I'm sort of a lightweight when it comes to racing in cold weather. I don't mind training in the bitter cold but I really don't enjoy racing when it's cold. My last road event for 2009 was Saturday - a short time trial in Maple Park, IL before I begin cyclocross next weekend. Temps were in the upper 30s in Maple Park when we rolled and fortunately things warmed up to the low 60s by start time. Representing for MetLife/Pony Shop were Josh, myself, Mike, Dan and Ansgar. This was Ansgar's first crack at a TT - he was sitting in 2nd position in the overall for the Fall Fling and needed the points to secure a solid place heading into the final criterium on Sunday.

The TT course was about 9.5mi long and mainly flat with a few turns and two 180 degree turnarounds. Wind was definitely present though not horribly so - headwind on the way out, nice tailwind on the way back. Warm up wasn't great for me but not bad either. Once I got rolling it was difficult to find a decent rhythm with all the turns and turnarounds so I never really felt 'comfortable' out there. When it was all over I ended up first with the fastest women's time on the day. I believe Mike and Josh both nailed top 5 times in the P1/2 and their age groups. Sorry to say that I'm not sure about Dan and Ansgar (I haven't looked at the full results) though I suspect they both managed excellent finishes as well.

It's hard to get my head around the fact that the 2008 road season is over - while there was plenty of racing, travel and training along the way it sure seems to have flown by quickly. There were some little bumps and low spots along the way but on the whole I'm pretty satisfied with how things went for me. I won a couple state championships, had my first top 5 finish in an NRC event, learned how to do a pursuit on the track, and nailed a silver medal in the TT at master's nationals, along with a lot of other good things.

Up next is some cyclocross with my new cross team, Verdigris. I'm really excited to be racing with this group of very talented master's men and women - first race is next weekend and I really need to practice or risk making a fool of myself! Beyond that I will also be riding for a different road team in 2009 though more information to that end is not forthcoming at the moment. It's definitely time for a change of direction and my new team will allow for me to explore some other opportunities on the bike - my way.

I suppose this might be the most important part of this entire post - to all the guys I race and train with, Josh, Ansgar, Ted and especially Mike - thank you. You have no idea how much you have helped me be better, smarter, more patient, more confident and mentally tough (HTFU!!) both on and off the bike. There is no way I would have accomplished so much in 2008 without you.

Go-Go White Sox!!
Sorry Cubs - I guess I was wrong on that one....