I live, I live through the Belgian's - Therefore I Blog Again

I live, I live through the Belgian's

Masters Regional Cyclocross Championship Start

Top 5 into the 2nd turn

Yes, I have been completely absent from blogiscyclesphere. The reasons are many, the largest, my employment situation - I am positive it will change soon.

Hence the lack of cycling related enthusiasm. Basically, I struggled to find motivation to finish the 2011 cyclocross season or even show up to the races I had pre-registered.
I hoped to maybe attend nationals, and see how things went or felt and then head down to Kentucky for Masters Worlds in mid January. As the air was slowly removed from my enthusiasm tank, I dug deep to stay on the cx bike, creep through and physically finish training and two cross races in December.

The first one in early December was Dec 3  Midwest Junior and Masters Regional Cyclocross Championships, Mason, OH - Kings CX near Cincy. There were miserable conditions, I had an amazing start, but as my Ridley carbon cross bike became slaughtered (weighted) with mud, I made a bike change to my Epic Carbon mountain bike (22lb 26") so my super amazing new team mate Graydon could clean my cross bike (I don't have two cx bikes). It was a great pass, and kept me moving forward, but the heavy mtb, wider tires, and life sucking mud got the best of me over 45 minutes. I finished in 5th Place - not bad considering. My other good buddy James T and I ran each other into the ground, back and forth throughout the race. I dug deep and caught up to him in the last two laps, and found something to pass him somewhere. Stats: I was almost 2 minutes behind my buddy Bill Marut, and nearly 7 min behind Cleveland fast man, Nate Loman. I have lots of respect for these guys and got to know them over the season. However, I am sure the mental stress of the job situation contributed to my lack of being fully "in" this event. Cycling and racing bicycles is a mental game.

James & I run the muck

 

My friend James Turner-we battled hard all season

Finish Line - agony of defeat - bike weighs 35lbs

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Up Next on the survival chopping block was the last Cap City Cross race at Smith Farms. In contributing back to the sport, I volunteered to help set up the course the day prior and have some influence into dishing out some pain for race day. It worked, I was able to convince Mason, Spencer and Andy to let me bring back the "Death Spiral" as it was named on the day. I hadn't ridden much or had much sleep and was stressed all week. I guess sometimes not worrying about your race can do you justice. I had amazing legs, amazing fitness and stood on the podium for a 1st place finish - My first for 2011. I was super proud of this finish and it was a big boost to my overall morale that was really in the gutter.

Thanks to my team, my CapCityCross friends, my OVCX friends, my CBUS practice peeps, my coach, my good friends and my BWE for supporting me this season. All of you helped put me on the podium and keep me motivated in 2011.

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 And Finally - My tribute and hats off to the Americans (Powers, Trebon and Drew Dillman(Jr. From Kentucky) racing at CX Worlds. The sandy beach sections got the best of the US riders it seems.

How do you slow down all cyclocross racers except for Belgian's? Dump 500 tons of sand on a course.

Drew placed in the top 10 (on his way to pro status) and Trebon finished 18th or so (1:06). I think Jpowers ended up 38th?

Let me not forget our American ladies. They had an amazing effort, and put us on the map. We do need more women racing cross locally and regionally. So, get your friends out there ladies. Develop those roadies into cross racers, get them off the pavement in August and show them what cx is all about.

Ohio State Cyclocross Championships - October 22 & 23

I line up with the fastest Masters over 45 in the State of Ohio

(L)Meredith and Chris, (r)Me and my Dad

(L to R) Team Hungry Mayor, Tony's Tan, Me and Katie

Katie and I do the 'Captain of the Ship' pose

Me and the "Cleveland" boys give each other hell

Some Guy, Tim and Kurtis

Scott, James and Doug

My finish against the CAT 1/2/3 Masters

Cap City Cross - Big Run Park - October 16, 2011

The one thing each week about cross racing, is you just never know when someone is going to have a better day than you are having. Some days, you get served...

Cyclocross Race #5 for the year

This day, I was not having an amazing day on the bike. I knew I would suffer, but suffering and having the engine are two separate things. I put in a fairly tough week of training in the days-week preceding. I knew my legs wouldn't respond with everything I needed, but I didn't know just how.

I got a good pre-ride in, but was arrived at the race way early and I think spent too much time riding around and not enough eating. No matter, the Senior Citizens club of Masters line up at the bottom of the hill, along side CAT 1 road racer, Jim B. It is an open masters race right, yea it is. Whistle. We are off, as I smartly settle in behind the leaders pulling my fat ass up that soap box hill. Over the top we go, my team mate Glen and I battle for position in the first few turns, I take a different line down into the ditch than most everyone else, it provided a smoother straight line into the next hard right turn. We head into the hillside and the barrier at the bottom of the hill, then back down towards the bottom of the Box derby hill, but over a giant dirt climb.

It was rough on the other side, and required quite a bit of focus and attention to avoid the ditch and raised sections of hard dirt and rocks. Scott Young was having a good day, and was not going ot be reeled in, however, Glen and Blair and I were riding around like we were chained together. I had a few moments where I was suffering and Glen, slowed up the pace, there wasn't anyone gaining on us, so it was going to come down to the last few turns and the run up the hill, or the grass section at the bottom....

We all stuck to each other like a kids magnetic toy train, until we rolled off the grass and onto the pavement at the bottom of the Soap Box Hill, near where we started the race (see start pic above for perspective on the sprint distance) Blair put in a dig, Glen countered, I sat on, waiting for the moment. Blair was up front, I was on Blair's wheel, I knew I couldn't out sprint Blair or let him get the jump, I had to go, I think my shift click was a trigger for him, however, I jumped flew hard left and gave it full-throttle. Blair had his gas wide open, so I swung back to his wheel and tried to suck any wind I could, I pushed and pushed, but still missed beating Blair by about a bike length.

That is the first time he's beat me this year. Glen rolled in right behind me...he didn't even bother getting up to sprint.

The BWE (wife Jen) always takes amazing photos....

I pulled a decent 6th place in, just missing 5th.


that was one long uphill sprint. I hit a high Heart Rate number for the year. Ouch.
Lots of coughing after this race.

oh, Masters CAT 1 road racer guy, finished over 2 minutes ahead of us...he was rollin.

Cap City Cross #1 - Big Run Park, Columbus-Ohio

Big Run park - Cap City Cross

First race of the series and someplace Andy and crew have been trying to get their hands on for about three years. I'd say after today, it was worth the wait. This place was so cross. Lots of off camber, lots of twists, lots of flow and a bit of pavement.

The photos to the left are from the National championship course in Akron, Ohio - a little Ohio History for you readers.

We started at the bottom of the actual Big Run Park Soap box Derby hill on the pavement. I lined up with the Open Cat 3's and the Cat 3 - 35+ and 45+. I think a large group of just over 54 or so of the combined fields.

The start was fast and furious, with super speedy racer/ official and Ohio Cycling Association creator, Kirk Albers. Since myself, Layne and Tim had done some recon, we knew if the start or finish was on that pavement hill, it would be a determining factor each lap, at the start and at the finish. It was. The start was fun, I was sitting top 10, just where I wanted to be at the crest then recovering a little quicker and having more confidence than some into the super grass dip after the road crossing, much of the race was determined here and at the first hard left hand turn around our first fat tree.

From the tree we dodged a telephone pole on some fun off camber stuff then back hard right up and over the first set of flat ground-double barriers. After the barriers we elbowed our way into a wide section where some passing occurred each lap, then back across the same road and up onto the grassy side of the Derby hill itself. Up, down and up again over a short single barrier and up a very short steep run.
I actually enjoyed this run, each lap. I am not struggling this year with any of my previous years calf cramping issues. Good grief those hurt the last two years.

AT the top of the steep run up was a hard right down a steep off camber sweeping left turn, that was proving to be a determining area for the race and a challenge for those with no balls or lack of experience to find the right line and balance on the bike. John Proppe figured it out and had it down! As we twisted and turned up the grassy hillside within the tape we crested onto the pavement at the top of the derby hill, then back down to a set of super fun sweeping right, left right then along the tall grass to enter the straight away for the super steep hill dirt climb. This was so much of a mountain bike hill and seemed to prove a challenge again for some. The other side was a long run out into a hard left turn that was holding some moisture and also required braking at the right time to carry speed out of the turn.
We zig zagged back and forth along the bottom of the pavement and back out on the pavement for a brief moment, then back out at the way bottom for the long speedy hurtful climb back up the pave'.

I managed to not loose any places on the road section, and hold my own.

I did go down on the last lap, which certainly jarred my melon, I lost track of what lap we were on and lost two places at the line, but no biggie, it was my two teammates, Doug and Tim.

Had I not gone down on the off camber bumpy stuff, I might have had a 8th place overall in the 3's.

Ahh well, I still managed a 2nd place in the 35+ field, which was stellar. I was just super bummed I didn't get to physically stand on a podium for once.


<<< Kyle Wingler

Pics of the Elite racers, Single-Speeds  and some of the 3's that actually did two races.

<< This is Matt Weeks and Paul Martin.
Both very good racers, but Paul got the best of Matt at the bottom of the hill on the last lap and basically out sprinted him and made it look like Matt wasn't even moving - very impressive.

<<< Mason (SS) chasing Joe Hall

<< Greg Flecher ended up 5th in the Elite race.

Cross season is officially here. I've been going after it pretty hard the last few weeks, running, training, building some speed and power during regular workouts. I am up to easily running 5-miles at  a good solid pace, which feels nice at my age to be able to make happen. I finally got the Ridley Crosswind up and going better than last year. I went through every bearing, every part, added lube, installed new cables, my new shrink cable covers and even some new swanky blue brake hoods, to cover my 6700 Shifters. I also found time over a three week period managed to remove the pair of front “sealed” bearings and all four rear “sealed” bearings in my Planet X brand carbon wheels. This required basically, taking a sharp, small bladed knife to each of the seals on each side of the little bearings. This was much cheaper than replacing them all with ceramics, replacing the hubs and or ordering replacements from American Classic, whom it appears manufactures the hubs for Planet X. I also noticed and learned I need to do more service on my cross wheels more often than once per season. Those rear hubs have so much going on, I think it would be beneficial to take a day and work on them. The gain is, watching them spin and spin forever is worthy of the time investment. This was just way more tedious and time consuming - hopefully we will have a much drier cross season here in the Midwest and I won't be washing my bike every Monday.

Sunday, September 5th 2010

I traveled down to Scioto State Forest and entered the Cap City Cyclocross Frankenbike event. This was a 50 mile ride, that was not promoted as a race, but hey, get a bunch of competitive end of the season road racers, mid-season mountain bikers and early season cross racers and what do you get? Well you get 25-30 mph from the gun for the first 4 miles of pavement, just before we made a right hand turn up the gravel road for the first hurtful beast of a climb for the day. The course was split in two halves with a short stop for me back at the car for new bottles. I choose to race my Ridley Crosswind, which seemed to be a good choice for about 85% of the course. The other remaining parts of the course were really mountain bike sections. Spencer and I rode together for most of the second half of the race he did a good job writing up more details of the event here: I ended up 13th overall with about 75 or so at the start line. A good early September sign – regarding what is in the fitness hopper. 

The bonus part of riding my cross bike in this type of race, which I found out last week at our regular cross practices here in Cbus - is that all that time spent on the cross bike was a huge confidence builder as far as handling the bike in precarious situations.

At Frankenbike, I rode and managed to finish around 12/13^th place depending on a few others and whether they actually rode the course, or “missed a few sections”. I don’t really care one way or another, I was happy to have the fitness to stay with my man Spencer, catch Marksteen, stay with Payne Leeters (who was on his cushy 29er mtb) and finish minutes behind the actual leaders.

A good day on the bike.

Saturday September 18, 2010

OVCX – Kings CX – Cyclocross Race 1 (not for series Points)

I took 8^th place at this old converted golf course, which is now a city park. My goal was to test the waters, see who’s out there, and save some berries for Sunday’s more official points race. I got a good start line call up- second row I think of the 35+ crowd, had good position going into the first turn and tried to hold that for the race. It was hot, did I mention it was hot? I don’t mind the heat, it’s just if I am going to go hard and TT for 45 min, I would prefer at least mid 80’s for cross and not the high 90’s. After lap 1 I was starting to eat into the back of the Open CAT 3’s and find some good lines on the course. My Ridley felt good as I pushed it into some corners testing the tubie tires on my carbon wheels. Lots of power to be had and power in reserve, even with 2 laps to go, even though I felt like I was fading some at the 30 min point, these were long laps and this course was not very technical. A good course, but just not too crazy from this mountain biker’s view. I like the short courses I think and enjoy them more when I am not out there doing 10 min laps. This felt way more like a roadie course and not enough of a cross course. Well organized, good food in the old Golf cart storage room.

Sunday, September 19, 2010

OVCX – Kings CX – Cyclocross Race 2 (Series Points)

Sunday I arrived plenty early to make sure I was relaxed and not rushing about, trying to get it all finished and remember everything – pre-race. I had LP and BWE in the car along with “The Motivator,” two-sets of wheels for me and several individual SS wheels belonging to LP. We got changed quickly, since LP was racing the SS race shortly after arrival. I took my time (which I love), getting warmed up, getting a few sprints in, checking out the course changes, which they basically just changed the direction we were riding and a few other areas, making it much harder - still a bit of a roadie (usgp) type of course for my taste and not enough technical bits and trees to keep things interesting. I figure if you can stay on the gas and average over or around 15 mph - the course is too fast and too much roadie - there were a few steep hills on the camel-hump - a nice section into these dark woods and over a log, then up a steep short hillside - the finish line/lap area was defiantly uphill and cause for some increase of HR - and Oh, the friggin sandpit was a bitch. It was an uphill battle and after some serious up and down sections that got your HR up then a sweet sweeping downhill tight around a tree then uphill into the sandpit with a giant lip to pull your front wheel up and get the back end of your bike out- I heard days later they dumped a ton of new sand in there which makes total sense - it was some life sucking sand for sure. I wonder where you purchase life sucking sand? I was battling it out with my teammate, Doug, passing him, he would pass me, I even caught up to Spencer  from B1(Open CAT 3's) and with Ray yelling at me(after he finished), I dug deep, found something I didn't know I had and sprinted elbow to elbow into a sweeping right into a sweeping left uphill, then a wide fast sweeping right uphill into the finish line - just nipping Doug and Spencer at the line by a horsehair. Those guys are tough! We were just having fun and it was great!  I had absolutely not-a-clue where I finished, but had I known I might have ridden a bit harder with 3/2 laps to go, to catch a few in front of me. I guess Doug and I should be working together and not messing about racing each other - ha. We wore timing chips, so after the fact it was interesting to see my lap times.

10th Place finish.

Not awful - not great -  but it's a start to the OVCX series for me and a good solid finish with no mechanical issues.

OVCX -John Bryan State Park-Ohio State Championships

OVCX / CapCity Cross - Ohio State Cyclocross Championship Race -11/29/2009
One of my favorite races all year. Whether or not it is or is not the big state race of races. I love the park and the land in this sweet little park outside of Yellow Springs, Ohio and home to Antioch College. If you ever saw any episodes of The Twilight Zone, you may have not known, Rod Serling, the voice of the original TZ episodes, also graduated from this small school.
Now, off to the bike races with the coolest beard I could muster.
TJ and Phil let the course map out a week or so before the race, so we all got to see the new start location and a new fresh layout for 2009. Our start was on the road at the bottom of the hill entrance, which worked really well. Once at the top of the hill, where the ground leveled, we made a sweeping left hand turn onto the grass and towards the woods. My wife reminded me, that the Elite Masters men, all pedaled hard, full throttle, all the way up the hill across the grass and into the first sweeping turn. I followed her advice from my second row start, but didn't get my right foot clipped in right away and quickly got pushed back to about 15th into the grass. Not bad, I thought, I could pick off riders in the twisty
bits and go hard for the first two laps. This seemed to work, but I couldn't quite catch James from Trek Cincy. James, Gers, O'Shaughnessy and that pre-puberty fast kid Haley were all right within reach in the twisty section around the Gazebo and giant rock. On the last two laps, James was taunting me, saying, "COME on, come and get me" nice James! :) It was fun and certainly made me think about why we all race. A few things that made this state championship special, my parents and my sister all came out to watch me race. I actually had a one x one race with the Team Spin/ RR Donnelley racer, Peter Deucher.
Peter and I really gave each other a race, we threw it down like two wild caged dogs. It was amazing, to have the fitness and legs to stay with Peter on his accelerations, but also to have the fitness to trade off leads with him. We really battled elbows into the woods and before the double sided sand pit the last few laps. "Quite a show", my dad commented about our battle. Peter even apologized about the scrappy elbows into the woods, but I wasn't mad...I was happy to really race with someone for once, where I am usually out in la la land between the front 8 and the next group back. So, thank You publicly Peter, for a great race dude, props you were killing it. One last bonus of this day, the State Championship for the Tandem Cyclocross race, yeah that's right it happened. Glen, Kyle, Jon, Tom, Mason and Andy all killed each other racing their tandem bikes. It was a sight, I am not sure the OVCX crowd really got it. They watched, but I consider the ovcx racers quite the serious bunch; I am sure they didn't see the irony in the race, especially since Andy and Mason wore costumes.

Since Glen and Jon killed themselves on the tandem, I got to blow by my buddy Glen early in the race. I finally beat Brian C. from BioWheels, my first time beating him this year - he's had a great season.

I ended up 11th place out of 43 starters. I was super happy with the course, my race result and my family being there to see this stage performance. I could hear the familiar voices from my Mom and my sister and their cowbells each lap, near the barriers. My wife observed, my Dad counting my race-place the first few laps and got more and more excited counting and learning I was moving up from 18th place and picking off riders. During the last ten-years or so of my bike racing, my Dad has been to very few, but when he does show up, he always has coaching wisdom to pass along. I value his advice, coaching wisdom and presence. He has over 35 years of football coaching experience. He has a way with words, like the Bear Bryant's or Vince Lombardi's of the world - he can sum up sports saying very little.
After a local Crit, five years ago, he threw out this Dad gem, "why weren't you up there with those guys?", referring to the ones leading the race.
My only post-race defeated response, "I don't know Dad, I just wasn't"
His logical response, "...well, next time, get up there with those guys."

Another Ohio State Championship on the books... I tried my best to 'get up there with those guys,' Dad.