The Big Move

So I’m excited to say I’m moving out to Pullman, WA. As I said earlier today a lot of people knew this was coming, but I’m happy to make it official. A few things are still up in the air, but plans are to be leaving the last week in January. Pullman is a pretty small town on the border between Idaho and Washington about an hour south of Spokane. It’s mostly a town built around Washington State University, but it’s also got some pretty good riding both locally and in the area. But that’s not why I’m moving.

I’m moving first and foremost, to be with my girlfriend. But that’s not the only reason. I was faced with the end of college this year and where I was going in life. I saw two paths to follow; professional cyclist or professional engineer. I really love engineering and I know that it will be there when I stop racing, but I’m young and talented enough, and driven enough that I wanted to take a stab at racing my bike for living. Moving away presented an opportunity to jump in, take the leap, and race my bike.

There is a part of me that is terrified to be moving. I have made a pretty good life for myself in Madison; I have a ton of good friends and have a good job. Madison is a pretty awesome place to be, but I feel that as a cyclist, I’ve grown about as much as I can here. One of the pillars of my personal philosophy is to never stop growing by always challenging yourself and by always pushing yourself beyond your comfort zone. I’ve grown comfortable in Madison and it’s time to break out and scare myself a little. So yes I am a little nervous, but I am by far more excited in what the future will hold.

Post season reflection

My usual procedure for writing a new blog post is to go back look at what I last posted and pick up the story from there. But my last post was about Melas Basin and before that Chequamegon. The story is a little fragmented at this point, something of a representation of how I ended this season.

I don’t really know how to describe it, but it’s been tough. No worries now, I’ve pushed through and figured it all out at least emotionally, but it’s a case of perspective. While you’re neck deep in it, you think it’s a much bigger deal than when you’re standing on the other side looking back.

Melas Basin Racin - Taking the Win at CCC #10

Ok, so it’s been a very long time since my last post. But I’m going to ignore all that and let you know about something recent, Sunday in Chicago for Melas Basin CX!

I have to tell the story about this race because I was excited for it, and it deliver. I drove down with long time buddy Alex Martin. Martin is a rad dude in every aspect. And like most rad dudes he’s exceptional at riding in the mud. But I love the mud too so we were both excited to get a good mudder CX race in before it got truly cold and it was all snow and ice. The forecast had rain all Saturday and Sunday so I made sure to have a guy in the pits. Before I could even contact him, Chandler Snyder. Better known as the Wookie, hit me up and asked if I needed someone. Of course I did and he’s the best. Check him out if you need some expect advice in the Chicago area.

http://wookieapproved.tumblr.com/

Chequamegon and Cross is in the air

Going back two weekends, it was the big race of the year, Chequamegon. I say big race of the year because this race has a personal meaning to me more than most. If you’re a long time reader you’ll remember that last year I said I’ve been racing it since I was a young kid. I’ve been up in the Chequamegon forest in September every year since I can remember in some form or another. I’ve been doing the kids races, and Sunday Funday since I could ride a bike. More than any other race, Chequamegon has informed my opinion about what mountain biking is and what kind of an experience racing a bike should be. To really make it stick, I should get some old photos together some time.

Dad trying to get fresh with me.

So going into Chequamegon there is always more at stake than just another race. It’s always been the way my dad measured his season’s success and as I am his son, it’s the same for me. Beyond that, This year has seen some milestones, but overall hasn’t been all that I hope it would be. I was looking for one more stamp of success to be satisfied with the mountain bike season for 2014. Certainly a top 10 and a top 5 was really what I wanted.

Meet Psimet Custom Wheels.

Check out this pretty sweet video from Psimet custom wheels. Happy to be riding wheels from a guy who knows his stuff.