USGP - Staying Motivated, Diminishing Returns, Mechanicals

Well, yes I am behind in my reports from UCI weekend. Life has taken over and I haven't had spare time to sit down and write or post photos anywhere. My computer here at home has a full hard drive - music and photos - and I have been trying to burn some backup/storage dual layer dvd's to free up some space. So, yeah - sheesh, just one more thing I don't have time to remedy.

I was calling my UCI weekend report - "A Weekend of Diminishing Returns". I went from 25th, 30th to 45th places for the weekend, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. I did beat quite a few fast guys on Friday and Saturday and felt good about those two races and my fitness. I had great legs all three days. Sunday was the hardest course at Harbin for sure, but there was just no zing left in my run or speed on the bike on Sunday. The sand pit after the hill just murdered me every lap. Saturday and Sunday after my races, my non-drive crank arm was very loose. It didn't come off, but it was affecting my shifting for sure. I am aware of what I did wrong to affect my results, so I can try to work harder to avoid those things in future multi-racing weekends. We stayed with good friends for the weekend, which was so great and very convenient. We went out to dinner with them Friday before they headed out to ride the muddy Brown Co. Breakdown MTB 'race'.

This weekend is the USGP in Louisville, KY. I race both days in the very large (might be the largest field I ever raced in) 2/3 Category. Right now there are over 100 entered for the Saturday race. Wow. Sick. Sunday is almost at 100. I think some wait to see what the weather will do or how they feel and decide to come race.

I have done better this year, as darkness looms quicker and quicker when I leave work, to not let the darkness affect my motivation to ride. It's hard sometimes to get home, get dressed, find all the lights, and go ride and train. It's better with friends, if they are available.s

My FSA cranks took a poop finally or I just am not much of a mechanic to keep them on the bottom bracket correctly, they have been removed along with the ceramic BB. I had to special order a certain Loctite 641 from Alabama, which is the recommended product for FSA cranks. A week later it shows up, I get it on the crank spindle as instructed. the First real ride last night 15 min to my favorite cross training park and the non-drive arm is almost rubbing the frame from being so loose. UGG. A quick ride back to the man cave and my carbon Tarmac is now naked of some Dura-Ace 7800 cranks. I moved them over to the cross bike and the difference is certainly noticeable in stiffness. I hope to get a used replacement crankset for the cross bike, next week after a weekend of racing on quality cranks (that don't get loose).

Each night this week I have been working on the Aquaseal project from hell. I am not sure what person figured out you could put this stuff on your expensive tire sidewalls and it would protect them, but I keep thinking about how one would discover Aquaseal as a use for the sport of Cyclocross. I took care of my tubie tires and now am one side/wheel away from finishing my griffo clinchers. They have been abused already this year, by water and mud. It is a time consuming tedius process that can also be toxic to your health if you're not careful - this stuff causes sterilization (at least it says so on the tube). It's too thick to put on with any type of soft brush, so I have been using a small bendy plastic scraper to get it on the tires. I start at the top, near the knobby/sidewall seam and work my way down to the rim area. I used blue paint tape first around the carbon wheels and Mavic clinchers to keep the seal stuff off the brake path. It's a pain in the ass, really.

The last drama mechanical of the week. My 45-day in use, S-works mtb shoes, have a BOA enclosure that will not stay tight. After a few calls today, I found a new S-Works Dealer outside of Louisville; Bluegrass Bicycle. The manager? owner? there hooked me up and got the replacement part sent overnight to his shop. Friday on my drive down, I'll be able to roll off the freeway and get my shoe fixed. I do have a back up set of shoes, but would like to have them as just that, back-ups. This guy was super cool and said he was registered to race, but had family stuff going on that might prevent him from racing. All I can say is - great customer service. I might have to put a letter in to the big "S" on his behalf.

The Pain Train - two days of UCI cyclocross in Ohio

OVCX - Java Johnny's/Lionhearts International Cyclocross (UCI C2) October 11, 2008

Saturday, was more fun than Sunday. I would say an 8 out of 10 on the fun scale. It certainly hurt much worse, I thought I was going to pass out after my race. I got beat by my arch nemesis (now friend) Ben B. He was rolling really well. One Highlight - my wife yelled "last lap", I listened - I laid it down for most of that lap, only to find out it wasn't the last lap. That hurt. The bike was great and the new Griffo tires are the bomb. They stick like glue and roll like butter. They do make a difference and they are just clinchers. Plus they look cool. Lots of guys racing. Lots of fast guys racing. I had a high heart rate max of 190. Wow, it does go that high and I didn't die.

BioWheels/United Dairy Farmers Harbin Park International” (UCI C1) - October 12, 2008

Sunday - more owee - about a 6 on the fun scale, but way way more guys racing in the 3 field. My HR max and average were down from Saturday and the legs felt pretty strong. I just didn't have the gas and mental anger in the pedals, like I did Saturday. I think about 65 or so lined up. I was further back in the starting line up than Saturday - oddly enough I think I finished where I started. I did pass some guys, but just didn't get out of the gate very well, got bogged down in the first turn, when I should have been on the outside of that instead, guys were all over the brakes (not supposed to use brakes in cross) which caused a little mess in the first corner, then the shit was strung out and no place to pass till the hill climb through the actual finish line. I did "beat" my arch nemesis, Ben, but it really doesn't count, since he bailed after lap 2.

Some lessons to learn from over the weekend: 1. ride aggressive for good starting position. It's all about elbows and body leans - hold my ground - don't find gaps > make them. 2. Pick my line for the first corners to avoid dumb guys on their brakes. 3. Work for good position at the start, but don't go full out - then work to not let anyone pass. 4. Arrive at race early enough to ride at least one full lap. 5. If your wife is yelling last lap, don't listen - listen for the damn bell. 6. when the temperature is 80 degrees, carry a bottle for the first few laps and drink from it - then dump it. 7. Power pedal through the sand - every time - no letting off - no soft pedaling - I will be confident everytime through that stupid crap. 8. Don't let anyone cut me off in turns - ohhhh I hate that - since I handle my bike pretty dang well. 9. Don't sit on anyone unless they are overtaking other riders - it will slow me down. 10. Race and ride like there are no more races.

I'll add to this as I have time - been a busy week, still playing catch up at home with being gone on our little beach vacation in North Myrtle, SC and then being gone all weekend racing. Someone please come run the vacuum and dust. If only I had a monkey in the basement that knew how to clean. A cat wouldn't work, they don't do anything.