Monday, September 19, 2011

I hope Joey's ok...



That was spectacular.  I don't know Joey, but he's alright in my book.

Thursday, September 8, 2011

KCOI/Boulevard CX Clinic #1

Well, it wasn't pretty, but I think I'd be wondering what happened if if was actually pretty. 

Mark Thomas took the "advanced" class and gave a big schpeel (sp?) on step through dismounts.  Then we talked about riding through sand.  I never really thought there was a more efficient way to ride through sand, and that either you had giant guads and horsepowered through it, or you ran it.  Apparently you are supposed to spin through it and keep your front wheel light.  That seemed to work ok.  I definitely need more practice.  Who doesn't though?

Speaking of practice, we did some step-through dismount drills.  Boy oh boy, is that scary.  The margin for error is slim, but I can see where they would be handy.  I think I'll practice them between now and the advanced all-day clinic I'm doing Saturday with Adam Mills. 

I did notice while riding around how much different cross is than other racing.  Not just what's apparently different, but how much different it is on your body.  It is much more taxing, for sure.  It's not that road racing isn't hard and hurts, but it seems that you can catch a break during road racing.  Cross is all the time pedal to the metal.  Very little recovery time.  I knew that, but you forget what it feels like until you do it again.  It's been 8 months since my last race at the snow-covered Grote Prijs, and it feels like it.

I did find it odd that most of the people who showed up last night (about 50 riders, and a fair amount of women!), that there were very few of the wispy road types.  People built more like me.  Actually it was a pretty good cross-section of people (pun not intended).  Cross brings all types out.  Road races tend to be more specific to the hard-core elite athletes.  It's not a night and day difference, but it is noticeable.  Just an observation more than a statement.

I still need to change my chainrings and get my tubeless set up, but we're getting closer.  I'm excited.

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Breathe deep, fall is here

Finally cool days and cooler nights are here.  It is so hard getting out of bed in the morning after the windows have been open all night and is feels so cool in the bedroom.  I'm hoping Fall lasts awhile, as it often seems to be here and gone in KC.

With cooler temps comes the cyclocross race season.  I'm not racing until October this year, but I have clinics tonight and on Saturday.  It should be good to work out a few bugs/cobwebs in a non-competitive setting, and to have a set of eyes watching your form.  I'm really looking forward to it.  I was up until 11pm last night getting my bike ready.  It's still not all the way there, I have to change my chainrings and get my tubeless tires set up.  No tubulars for me this year.  Yes, they are great, but they are pricey and more importantly, time consuming.  For the 10 hours you spend cleaning and gluing them up, you could go out and train for those 10 hours and get back whatever time you invested with faster performance on race day.  At least that's what I'm telling myself.  Training time is gold, as far as I'm concerned.

I had a great weekend activity wise, and I felt like an athlete going for a night jog on Friday night while everyone else is partying.  Yea, I'm a nerd like that.  Saturday I took the day off, and then Sunday I went for a quick 20 mile ride.  It felt good.  Monday I went out again for 50 miles and really had quite a time fighting the wind on the way home.  I was in the doghouse for not being home as much as I should have getting ready for K's party.  My legs were pretty tired at that point, but I felt ok.  My cardio seems to be in excellent shape after running, but my cycling legs suck.  I have 0 power and 0 endurance.  I'm glad I have a month before the next race.  I've been bulking up too, I suppose too many calories.  I'm at 188 (!) and was thinking I was headed for the 170's for cross, but I don't think that's going to happen.  Ug.

Anyway, my wife came through again (kudos to her) and we had another spectacular party.  I grilled up pizzas for everyone (nearly 30 people) and K had a great 3rd birthday.  He got a giant blow up bounce house for his birthday, and he loved it.  He's been asking to "I wan do gin" quite a bit.  He really liked the "yake" (lake), roller skating, the bounce house, and opening presents of course.  He's so much fun, which is good that he can offset the trying times, but they seem to be getting fewer and fewer.  As are his nightly outbursts.  We all slept awesome last night and the mood this morning definitely showed that.

So that's that.  I'll post up what happens at the clinic tonight.  I'm hoping my buddy Mulbery will join me out there tonight.  He needs to get out there and race.  No more wussy triathlon stuff.  There's not enough mud.  ;-)

Saturday, September 3, 2011

World Bicycle Relief - Sprint to the Finish



As some of you may be aware, my team and I are raising money to supply bicycles to people in Zambia and sub-Saharan Africa.  These bikes are life changing.  Please watch the video above, and if you feel compelled, please donate towards our cause.  Thank you so much for watching and donating.

Thursday, September 1, 2011

Commitment

http://elizabethfedofsky.blogspot.com/2011/08/commitment.html

This was one of those great blog posts you come across every now and again. If you are doing anything athletic, you owe it to yourself to read that post.  Elizabeth's blog is pretty entertaining as well.  Even if she is a triathlete.  ;-)

Enjoy in good health!