Propulsion

I finally got out on the road yesterday, it's good to move forward than just spinning my wheels for hours on end. After reading a few other blogs I think it's time for me to step it up and get outside more. The cold isn't as bad as you may think, and I'm sick of the music on my itunes already...which is my only entertainment riding inside. I hope the next few days are above 20* or so...I'd really like to ride some gravel and log some longer miles. I'm really hoping this new bike and all the training I'm doing will make a difference next year, so hard to judge where you're at during the off season. I honestly can say I've never trained like this for anything since highschool/college basketball, it'll be interesting to see how it pays off. I wish I could use the same diligence and effort for other parts of my life, something to work on for the new year.

Off to Irwin's Christmas Extravaganza (ok maybe not that great) to get some food in my belly before my ride and see if my new Specialized frame is in...sometimes you have to make your own merry Christmas! ho ho ho ho ho ho.......

Ps...hope my family's jerseys are in that I ordered two days ago and paid express shipping for b/c I waited too long to xmas shop :-0

Training

I've been pretty consistent in the last 3 weeks putting in around 8 to 12 hours of training a week depending on my legs. This last Saturday I thought I'd enjoy a two hour spin while watching "There will be Blood." I was way off...I couldn't hear a damn thing, and my legs felt like bricks. I couldn't hold a 140 HR, and my ass hurt something horribly. What's the point of this movie, some people are too greedy, and others are a little too caught up in religion? Both suck. I did get my 2 hours in but I think my next long effort needs to be in w/ a group.

Today after a meeting I headed out to Denman's for a quick run through. I was pumped about getting in some mtb time b/c last snow I went out and had a blast, but I want to get better at that sport. I probably should have just gone out to Grey's Lake and rode around on the pond there. I think the whole trail was about 3 inches of snow w/ 5 inches of ice underneath...not fun. I did not go fast, I only really fell once, but it wasn't much of a workout. I was one of two other people out riding, and probably 3rd through the track since the snow...which wasn't as cool as I thought it'd be b/c of the aforementioned facts. Hope we lose that ice, or I won't be out there much this winter.

Went to train at Irwin's on the way back and Derrick split his wrist open, (no it wasn't b/c he's depressed) he fell on the rollers into a metal bike stand. That required 8+ stitches...good work! The movie was right, "there will be blood."

Not looking forward to roller races, need to work more on power, not fun...but then again, it's fun to go fast, maybe I should just shut up and ride!

A look at my G2 bottle after the ride...nothing like a G2 slushy after an hour ride in freezing temps!

Cup o' Mud

I'm pretty excited about this...give me a reason to get out and ride at least 4 hours a few times this winter...Gimme dat dere cup o Mississippi mud partna!

http://www.cyclingupdate.blogspot.com/

Jingle Cross Rock

What a weekend! I'm definitely falling more and more in love w/ this sport. It's funny b/c last year I did not even know cyclocross existed, now I'm not sure what else I'd be doing. I never thought in my 28 years of existence that I'd be looking forward to racing my bike in sub 32* snowy/wet/muddy/windy conditions.

Day 1
Steve drove over in the beautiful new lime green Honda Element. This baby is one nice ride...plus we can fit both our bikes in without taking off wheels, real nice. The morning of the race we arrive about 45 mins before start time to get ready and warmed up. After the first race gets over we go pre-ride the course and wouldn't you know it, we miss the "call up" for the start line and start out dead last. (On a side note, I didn't even know what a "call up" was, so I shouldn't get too upset at myself.) Conditions were pretty greasy and I got lucky and avoided a few crashes the first lap which set me up pretty nicely. On about lap 4 that luck ran out. I'm riding along the side of the hill with no one around and my back tire slips from underneath me and I go down, try to get up, fall down again. I try and pull my bike up the hill to get some traction and about 8 people passed me. I picked off a few but ended 27th out of 57. The race in general was a sufferfest and that run-up didn't help at all. My average heart rate was 188, maxing at 197...so it wasn't like I wasn't trying. There was always tomorrow...

Day 2
I woke up to 2 inches of snow on the ground. Usually when I wake up in the morning and look outside right away I'm skiing. This time, however, I was in Iowa and I was bike racing, yet still excited to see the snow. I've never ridden my bike in the snow so I was eager to see how I'd handle. Since I'm new to the sport, and young, I race in the "beginner" category. The thing about Jingle Cross that sucks is that they make the course easier and shorten the laps. We never got to descend Mt. Krumpit like the videos on youtube show, pretty disappointed but the race must go on. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mX5baTMfczE) Steve and I get our shet together and we are in line for the "call up." (so I'm 50% making it to the start line on time in my career, not a good stat.) What a difference this makes, someone said the start makes up 20% of your race. Well I went from mid-pack to top 10! I avoided a lot of trouble and stayed on my bike most of the race, which was key. I wish I would have really dug down and went for it a bit more, I think I could have cracked top 7, but I'm learning...only my 4th race.

Overall a great venue, Steve and I really seemed to improve this weekend. I'm thinking of Nationals b/c I don't want this season to end and it'd be fun to go and push it to see how much I've improved. I think we recruited 2 new riders next year, Ethan and his adventure racing friend, Vanessa. I hope I can continue to improve, and the sport continues to grow.

Extra special thanks to Ethan for the hospitality and Steve for driving...here's a good pic of my boys.

Peaking in November?

I'd like to say I'm in the best shape I've ever been on the bike, but more importantly, I'd like to know. It's easy to know where you stand when you're up against constant competition on a consistent course. I have NO idea what sort of shape I'm in b/c the lack of the aforementioned (is that used correctly?) I've been spending more time, and have more fun, on the bike than I ever have before, hopefully it's paying off.

I'd have no idea what I'd be doing without cyclocross and mtb this fall/winter. I'm so glad I took the plunge to buy that cross bike...what a great sport, so many variables, so much pain, such a great atmosphere and community. I'm jacked for Jinglecross, I can't wait to see how I'm able to perform. Plan is to go out harder earlier so i don't get bottle necked towards the beginning. Oh, and I plan on having a ton of fun, from what I've heard it'll definitely be interesting!

I'm still really confused on what the best approach for my "base" training this winter should be. I talk to Rich Wince and look at Lou Waugaman's blog (ridiculous training schedule) and they are putting in some serious time, but at lower levels. The DMOS coach, USA Cycling licensed Level 1 (Elite), should know a thing or two about cycling as well...he says to put in the intensity as long as you can hold the motivation year 'round. Tough to say, I'm really enjoying my time in the saddle, but can I do two short, hard intensity interval rides a week...plus a few longer rides as well? I need to get stronger/faster, not sure which is the best route for me to take. All I know is that compared to Lou, I need to be putting in much more time to ride at a much higher level...duh, right?

Living History Farms race was fun, missed Cranksgiving although I heard the event was a good turnout. I rode rollers for the first time last week and it was interesting, no crashes but it's a bit more difficult than I thought. Seems that I really need to work on smoothing out my pedeling stroke, goal is to ride no hands-one foot by Christmas. Really enjoying mtb as well, it's a great challenge and a lot warmer than riding roads. I'll have to get up early one day and ride w/ the pros to see how I'm progressing.

Update after Jingle Cross...my cow bell is waiting!

State Cyclocross & Dirty Du

What a great weekend of racing! We DESERVE this weather in Iowa after the frigid winter and flooding we had during spring this year. Two races this weekend, like to hear it, here it go!


Race Report:

State Championships - It's funny that anyone can race in the state championships; can anyone race in nationals down in Kansas City? If I place 30th at nationals can I say I'm the 30th best cat 4/5 cyclocross racer in the nation? If so I may have to compete.


According to others this was not a technical course; however, I had major problems getting around the turns quickly. I need to work on my bike handling skillz. One spin out, rest of the race was smooth. Finished 16th out of 34 I believe, not bad. Next race I'd like to start up w/ the big dogs to see how long I can hang...sucks getting bottlenecked! Favorite part of the race was Brian Eppen dressing up as 80's trailer trash...the best cyclocross racer in Iowa (from what my eyes have seen) having fun w/ the weekend and still riding dirty! A quick mention that I've gone out drinking every single night before a cyclocross race, and I've cramped every race...I'm starting to see a pattern.

Dirty Du-

Dirty du was my first bike race 3 years ago. Out of all the athletic events I've participated in over the years, this was by far the most humbling. I've ridden on the trails a few times since then and am sure I've improved, but I was not out to prove anything Sunday. Another beautiful day! I picked TJ Tollakson, and his gf Ashley Tousely up and headed over to the race. Race was great, challenging, good atmosphere; I wish there were more of these races. Tj, although 1/3 professional bike racer, not so great on the mtb. Almost broke brothers bike, crashed 6 times, went slow, went fast, didn't want to run the last 2 miles but Ashley made me. According to her, we were "jogging," and "running really slow." I was out of breath. Great job to CITA for putting on a wonderful event, congrats on the participation levels.


DMOS training:

Starting winter training for DMOS. A full season of indoor training! This is my opportunity to really work with some great coaches and see what I can be. Rich Wince went from beginner to cat 3 by the end of the year...I'm hoping to follow his footsteps. I'd also like for DMOS to compete w/ the DS 5000 and A9Y team in some cat 4/cat 5 races. I'll be pushing my teammates hard this winter to help form a good team. Rollers are hard, more fun than riding on a trainer though...that'll be my next purchase.

1st post

After trying to find something challenging, engaging, and addicting for quite sometime I finally found what I've been looking for...cycling. True it has got to be one of the most time consuming, expensive, and most difficult sports to "slip" into, but I'm hooked and I'm not talking back. Basic idea of this blog is to follow me from a beginner cat 5 racer to as high as I can go. Hopefully I can give an unbiased outside opinion of the sport in Iowa and call things like I see it. Hopefully it'll hold me accountable to countless hours of roller races, trainer rides, and spin classes...all of which are not fun, and makes me think twice about what I'm getting myself into.

Cyclocross practice tonight, need a good ride to loosen up my legs from the great Spooky Cross event last weekend...plan is to ride a bit slower than I usually do then try and follow the faster riders as they pass me and hold on as long as I possibly can...