My Last Collegiate Road Season

Last fall I started what would be my last year at this university. These milestones happen and I don’t really stop to think about them until they pass. But the fall was dominated by other things. If it wasn’t injury or sickness, it was class becoming overwhelming. I didn’t get a chance to stop and think about my last Collegiate MTB season. I think it was only a few moments that I stopped to think about it at the last race of the year. I won both races that weekend, so it was good to go out on a high note I suppose. And then of course CX nats came and went. To be honest I think I lived that one how I wanted. I didn’t have the result I hoped for, but no regrets there.

Update: Off Season?

You remember a few months ago? I do. I remember feeling excited to be racing CX, but as it seems to be in cross, there is always a longing to start the new season. While cross is a ton of fun, the short, cold intense rides and races always seem to make me eager for the next seasons base miles and the next seasons racing to start. It is best described as bitter sweet I guess.

Last year it was even worse as temperatures stayed high throughout the winter making the base miles a pleasure. Mid-January and into February I was threatening to ride without anything on my legs! With last year passing, so too have the mild temperatures, but what seems to have stayed was my body’s acclimation to it. This is really a roundabout way to say I miss the warm temperatures. I need to harden up a little I guess.

It might seem apparent, but I’m riding again. I took a few weeks off from real training, but with collegiate starting so early in the year, it’s tough to really take time off. It’s less of a break and more maintaining what you had with easy rides while giving your mind some time to relax. I suppose the body will just deal.

But I’ll tell you something, it’s nice to remember what road bikes are good for. It’s easy to forget when you’re playing in the mud and having the time of your life. At the time you think there is nothing that could be more fun. Well riding a road bike won’t put an instant smile on your face, but it can be easy come and easy go. And in a setting like that, the hard earned rides can keep you grinning for days. And that’s exactly what it’s been. The long tough miles on the weekends as I start preparing for the new season bring you a sense of adventure like you just don’t get on a cross bike.

Let me describe exactly what I mean. While, again, I enjoy cross as much as anyone else, it’s a very single serving sport. The courses are different, the locations can be exotic and less so, but the racing is pretty formulaic. Not that it’s a bad thing all the time, but its only one dimensional. The road offers something more free form. It can be horribly painful, or it can be gentle and pleasant. It can be long, short, or anything in between. You can ride in your backyard (anything within a 10 mile radius of Madison) or you can explore. I’ll be honest, there are few roads I haven’t ridden around Madison, but at a certain point, you start to rediscover roads. This can be just as eye opening. And let’s not forget the big difference; you can go really fast on a road bike!

With the first collegiate road race next week, I’ve been preparing. I’ve been riding a fair amount, going out with friends for some long rides and of course the ever present interval. I’ve also been practicing getting dropped. Working out the details, you know. Figuring out what face I’ll make when it happens, how many times I’ll tell myself I can catch back on, and of course and what songs I’ll have stuck in my head to guide me back to the car. All very important steps.

Another huge highlight, I was also very fortunate to win the Matt Wittig Scholarship this past week. The MJW scholarship commemorates a fallen rider. Matt was from all accounts an amazing rider, friend, and human being. But beyond Matt the man, the scholarship commemorates something else; it keeps the idea alive that UW Cycling is something special. Matt’s death brought the team together and displayed just how much love and caring there is on this team. We are united by a common set of beliefs; Bikes are great and the only thing stronger than the hate between club members is the love. Seriously, we joke around all the time, and won’t let anything ridiculous pass without due notice, but it’s all out of love. More than anything else, that is what the essay’s and ceremony are about.  To remind us of what we have and why it’s worth protecting.

I thank Matt’s family and the clubs alumni for giving us the opportunity to write the essays. It’s something I think we all dread a little come winter time, but when the essay is written we are happy we took the time.