Taking some rest

The season is over for me. About a week ago there would have been a finally added in there, but since then, I have already had a hard time staying off the bike. I had my Wisdom teeth out on Monday, and not even that is stopping me. The season went really well, but I defiantly got burned out toward the end.  I learned a lot about myself, my body, and what I want to live like for the rest of my life.  I never stop running though; I’m already looking to next year.

Last Sunday was the Wisconsin State Cyclocross championship race in hales corners. I did not plan my year around cyclocross at all this year, and it had been showing for a while now, but last weekend was a reminder of my poor planning. I was feeling alright, but the competition in the pro/1/2 race was stiff. Tristen was there, and Isaac seemed determined to go down swinging.  This made for a really fast pace, and a hyped up Joe thinking he could take it. I couldn’t. I rode pretty well though, felt really good, but started to fade a bit faster than everyone around me.  I was also really lacking in pop. I didn’t have any fire in my legs. But I held on for 12^th, so I wasn’t too sad.

I got my wisdom teeth removed on Monday, I would love to tell everyone all about it, but I really don’t remember much. I went to the doctor and woke up 2 days later missing 4 teeth and my mouth hurt. I kinda felt like the horse in Charlie the unicorn at the end. But I didn’t miss them all that much. I healed quickly, so I was almost able to eat Thanksgiving dinner to my full enjoyment. But my mouth got tired, that was new to me.

Today I went to a Badger game with my Dad, I had a blast! Not only did the Badgers kill Northwestern, but they did it looking good. Here we come rose bowl! I really did have a lot more fun than I thought. It was good, it showed me how much fun things besides biking can be, and made me second guess bikes a little, which is good I think.  The rest of the weekend is homework. It will be nice to get back to getting things done after a week of lying around. I feel rested and ready to go!

But without fail, my brain turns to next season already!

Next year should be a lot of fun; I plan on involving myself more with the cycling club here in Madison. I want to race a lot more collegiate next year, because I feel that although the competition isn’t as good, I will be able to showcase my fitness on a bigger stage than what I do now, and possibly get noticed for some bigger opportunities in the coming years. My plan is to race a nearly full collegiate road race season with just a few Wisconsin state races peppered in, in addition to ToaD. My team for next year wants to make a bid for an GC win next year, and I know I’m not going to be the guy, but I think I will be an important player in making it happen. I want to race as many collegiate races as possible though, to help my teammate win the national road race. He is a strong freshman and I think with a good team he could win, and beyond that I bet he could clean house no problem.

For my own exploits, I was in a personal struggle. I really do love cross, and nationals will be here in Madison next year. I was thinking of making cyclocross my priority and trying to win the national cyclocross collegiate race next year. After thinking about it, although I think I can still make a serious attempt, I don’t think it’s in the cards yet for me. I think that a national mountain bike collegiate title could be possible though. MTB are my first love in cycling, and I am much better off road with fat tires than with skinny ones.  My plan is to have a small peak for road season and then really hit it hard and peak again for the mountain bike championship. As I see it, I will still be strong after MTBs and I can make a strong showing at cross nats. Good to get this down, I’m done with bikes for a few weeks!

PICTURES!!!!

One step closer to turkey

This weekend was the Sun Prairie Cyclocross race at Sheehan Park. I have to say right off the bat that was an amazing course! It was a little long, but on a fast dry day, it would have been crazy fast and not even close to how hard it was. My Dad came out to Madison that morning and drove me up there. It was really good to see him; he is getting in cyclocross, which is fun to see. He was really getting into the race on Sunday. I don’t know if anyone else’s dad is crazy about football, but when he watches football, he gets really loud. Well, apparently he does the same for cyclocross. He was going insane, not just for me either. He was cheering everyone one. This surprised me, because I know him as a quiet guy.

The race was a lot of fun, I felt pretty good, until the start, my buddy Isaac was there too. He took off like a bat outta hell at the start, strung the field out really long. I was able to make some of the selections, but ended up with a smaller 3-5 man group that was third on course. I felt in control during the race, which usually only happens when I’m in shape, so it was a welcome felling. I ended up making some passes and got myself in a good position with 2 laps to go. I passed a guy at the bell, and was closing in on the next guy on course. As I closed in to make the pass on a run up, my pedals didn’t unclip, and I ate shit. I landed on the top of my head after doing a half front flip. My head started hurting I slipped back, but managed to stay in the top ten my head continued to hurt the rest of the day, but I’m fine now.

I need to do a quick homework rant. I have been getting things done all over the place. But every time I get something done, it seems like there is another crisis. I know, welcome to college, but man, it does get old. Thanksgiving is coming up, so I get a break.

I will try to write again before Thanksgiving, but if I don’t, I want to wish everyone a happy thanksgiving. Eat much turkey, enjoy family and friends, be merry!

Bleeding Lightning from the EYES!!!

This weekend was Iceman, and I didn’t go L. I had been talking to Dalas Fowler, getting a ride and getting a place to stay, but when the time came, homework got the best of me. I could have seen a lot of things getting the way of me racing Iceman, but not homework! But I made what I will say was the right decision for my future? I don’t really know, from looking at the pictures and video on Cyclingdirt.org, I wish I was there. I’ll just have to go next year.

So instead of racing Icaman, I went to Milwaukee’s Estabrook Park, to race WCA cross. The course was really good, very flat, will one downhill, followed by a steep run up with a log in front of it. I was there early, and got a chance to pre-ride the course. I especially enjoyed the death spiral, and the two sets of barriers in quick succession, very challenging.

Me Riding the run up. From looking at pictures, I was one of the few that were doing it

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To be honest, I didn’t feel great at the start, just don’t have that pop in my legs that I love oh so much during the season when I’m really fast. The plan was to be consistent. To try and stick with the lead group, but ride my own race. Now sticking with the lead group was a tall order with Mark Lalonde leading the group out. It was a small victory in itself to be able to race with those guys, made me realize I’m getting fast, for whatever that is worth.

I was able to stick with them for only a few laps, but rode about 5 laps all alone, with a chase group hot on my heels. The leaders broke up, so I had some carrots out in front of me to chase, but never caught any. I did unfortunately get caught by the chasing group, that had a Velo Trocadero, a My Wife Inc, and Ron Stawicki, all big deals as they were all guys I look to as fast. I was able to hold on to them as they made the catch, and sat on for about 1.5 laps. Coming into the death spiral on the last lap, I was able to keep things tight. The first set of barriers, I could tell they were tired, as was I, but I made some ground, and ron missed his pedals. I knew things were getting sloppy. I attached through the second set of barriers that followed, and found myself and the trocadero guys going away from the other two. I blasted as hard as I could to get some distance, but I couldn’t shake the trocadero guy off. I was in front though, and I knew that I could ride the run up, and he couldn’t. I got about 5 seconds on him at the run up, and gave the last quarter mile everything I had. He was able to catch me for the finish, but our battle blew up Ron and the My Wife inc guy.

Riding the run up, struggling a little more as the race went on. 

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After the dust had settled, I ended up 10^th. I was extremely happy with this, as not only was it a tougher field, but I am not in great shape right now, so seeing that I can still hang in there when I feel slow, mean I might make some waves next year! I haven’t completely shifted my focus to next year yet though. I still have the state championships, followed by the excommunication of my wisdom teeth, should be fun, haha, not. I am getting excited for a break though. I need it. I plan on taking a few weeks off, then starting with some easy spinning either outside, or inside depending on weather. I will have some pictures from this weekend that my mom and friends took, I'll get those asap.