In the meantime

Hey! It’s been far too long since my last post but instead of flooding you with race reports I’ll try to be brief and informative. Last time I checked in I was starting up CX season with a few good races on the local scene. Then it was all about ramping it up for a few hard UCI weekend with Cincy3, derby city, and Jingle CX.

Got some good food after Norge Ski Jump Race
just down the road at The Onion Pub

In the end I had some tough races and a little illness but overall the results weren’t where I wanted them to be. The focus was heavy on getting more UCI points to replace the ones I would lose after Jingle CX. I knew it was in me, but the issue is that there are a lot of variables in play, especially when it comes to competition. The us cross scene has gotten stronger this year and it showed as I was just outside of points on my ok days, and way too far back on my off days. I was just a little to fatigued from the long MTB season to really have any good days. The result was that I’m sitting here without points. Once you get points, all you care about are points. A good day you score some, a bad day you don’t. Its easy to get your head stuck like that and I’m trying to look at it from more outside the bike racing bubble. I have to remember that everyone is getting faster and that as long as I don’t get pulled, im still competitive. But I’m certainly looking for better.

Destroyed my drivetrain at Quarry Ridge one day

But I don’t want to discount the 3 UCI weekend. The results weren’t ideal, but I still enjoyed the racing, and especially when I raced Jingle with a strong team presence there. It was awesome having the team there, the sense of teamwork, helping each other in the pits and having some fun after racing finishes up.

I followed the UCI weekends with some more local racing. But this time around the competition was really there. Isaac and Brian showed up to Booty CX and State, then Tristan and Isaac we both at Regionals. First off, Isaac hit his form perfect this year absolutely crushing it at the local level at least. He seemed disappointed with his UCI results, but he’s stepped up to a higher level for sure. I got a chance to hang with Brian a little in Louisville and it was good to get to know him a little better. Then getting a chance to race against him, I’ve been able to learn a lot from him. He’s still the man to beat, but I’m happy to be in the picture at least for most of the race to keep learning and keep getting better. The same actually goes for Isaac and Tristan actually. Regionals were a pretty awesome race, a good venue and the weather turned out to make the course super fun. I had a good race and pushed hard and was able to get second behind Isaac and ahead of Tristan. It was a pretty fun battle with Tristan and I was happy to be able to have the legs and the head for it. Plus it came with a sweet cahs prize and an even better nationals support package from Pro Bike Express! That’s gonna come in handy.

Following regionals it’s been all about training hard. I’ve shifted the focus away from CX training specifically and moved to a modified base period for MTBs. Really just trying to stay sharp on the CX bike while doing the core and threshold work to be ready for 2014 MTBs.

State Champs Podium

One piece of information worth sharing is something I’ve finally learn to do this year, dress for the cold! After years of “just being tough”, I’ve started dressing a little smarter. The biggest revelation was with my legs, cover them. I’ve always been under the impression that your legs are making all this heat, they should be fine. But your body is a system and extra heat in the legs goes to the rest of your body. You also, thermodynamically, make more power when your legs are at the right temperature. Which im sure is well above what they are when they are bare on a 40 degree day. I’ve had issue in the past with numb hands and feet. Adding a wool tight under my normal tights has completely solved this. In addition, a good pair of booties and a solid pair of gloves are always important. Spend your money there.

Aside from all of that, I graduated with my degree in mechanical engineering. At least I hope I did. I’ve been through too much and lived long enough to know that you can’t count you chickens before they hatch and I’m not going to feel much about it until I get the real diploma. So look for that, maybe, in the next few months.

The capital lights blazing at the end of a fun skills workout.

 I wish a Happy Holidays and a wonderful new year to everyone. Hope your 2014 is better than your 2013 no matter how awesome or un-awesome it was.

Working on my balance. I've pretty much mastered the ball.