Tuesday, November 6, 2012

And Now back to your regularly Scheduled Program - not really

And so, it goes.
Coming back from an injury is sometimes easy. What you say? How can this be?
The easy part is getting back on the bike. The part I or one would usually miss the most.
The hard part is the adjustment of all your pieces and parts that have been out of wack or injured and getting everything else to catch back up. Stress from life, lack of work, work, home, all factors into your ability to be healthy. Healthy is not just a physical condition - it's mental. As I tell my coached athletes, you can be physically, fit - but if your mental game is off you are not going to perform at 100%.
As it stands not having your body and brain in complete alignment (insert Oprah comment here) your body will rebel.
Discs in your back are not something to mess around with and the nerves in your leg can be your friend or your enemy. The nerve in my left leg - my enemy in the last 6/8 weeks along with whatever was pushing on it inside my spindly old tether-ball pole of a spine. Some meds, wacky med induced behavior and physical therapy later, I got back on the double pedal horse, a slow ramp up and slowly testing the nerve and spinal waters so to speak. Testing, recovery, stretch, therapy, repeat and repeat.

zick, zock (that is a fast tick, tock) goes time and some amazingly painful moments.

I finally get the good feelings I needed and head out to local cyclocross practice. After a few good test laps, trying to stay safe and upright I start to let it rip. My good buddy Woody and I were letting it rip. I was feeling good, heart rate sky high, legs burning, tongue hanging on stem. Woody rolls around me on a downhill off camber and I shift to ready myself for the upcoming hill. Both of Woody's tires slide out and in an instant like a batman "POW" cartoon moment, I focus in on Woody's rib cage and visualize my front chainring cutting into his side. I am already too forward on the bike at this point, and grab brake, lots of it. I go right over the bars and avoid sticking out the dreaded stiff arm to avoid the broken collarbone - yes I thought about all this in an instant. Bam I am on the ground. Heart Rate at 175 and the pain and panic sets in as I lay there with about 20 others breathing heavy staring me in the face, as concerned friends would. I catch my breath, feel my shoulder and realize that it's not broken, but really really bruised, like bone bruised. Our resident osu female Jr. doctor, gives me a lookover and tells me I need to go to the doctor or should go....I think to myself nope I have been to the doctor enough thank you. I passed on several offers from good friends to get me home safe, but I ride home and suffer through the pain to make sure I can still at least use my left arm and drag my tail home.

After weeks and weeks of injury and disappointment, here lies one very sad cyclocrosser.

I find some morale and decide to focus on trying to race the CapCityCross - Uncle Steve's race as a primer for the UCI3 Cincy weekend. If I can get through the bumpy, crappy front, side and back yard of Uncle Steve's I can handle maybe two days of racing at UCI3.

I make it through Uncle Steve's - I wasn't last. I sucked. Although, not suck like I did on purpose in 2011 to ready my body for UCI3. This was suck on a different level, suffering on another level, suffering for my lack of high end fitness and quick jump legs to propel me through the slow, soggy, wet, bumpy course yard. Don't get me wrong, I love me some suffering, but this is all at a different level. Uncle Steve's under my belt, I wait, a day or two to see how the body responds. Test and Measure. I am sore, but it's not too bad. Ok, UCI3 is a go. Lets Do this thing.

Saturday I was racing at 2:30 p.m. - this is good, I can sleep in and get there late enough to check out the lines and what not. Relax. I go get on the course, and realize I don't have the gear (or legs), or right tires, to get up that camel hump thing. I head back to the car to turn my clincher back tire around, for more grip and put my 11/27 cassette on my rear wheel. 8 minutes done, I am back to course, watching the CAT 4's and testing out the gearing and rear tire. It seems great. Ok, now onto a great warm up. I knew I would be sitting at the startline for 5/7 minutes, so a good hard warmup right up to 2:15. Without one OVCX (Series) race for 2012, I manage a great 4th row start line spot. WHooahh. I am in great position for a top 20 at least, with these weak floppy legs and lack of time spent in heart rate zone 5. We are off, I battle past most of the guys in my row, into row 3 and into the back of row 2 by the first wide sweeping turn by taking the outside line and crossing back to inside to set up for the next turn - plan is working. Next up full gas - up towards the clubhouse. Done. The Rain begins. Guys are falling down, and taking the inside line, thinking it's quicker and being the cattle they are sometimes. The grass outside is dry and faster, I am there pushing hard. One lap in I suffer up the camel hump hill and back up the side of that fucking thing twice (thanks Corey :)).  I am ready for lap two, run up, two 2x2 - flat spot, four more 2x2 pushed into the ground. I am running hard, guys are starting to pass, as I gasp for zone 5a, 5b and 5c. Back around and down back up and into the double short wooden regular barriers. I feel a twinge in my left leg, what is that, oh well, onto trying to hold my ground and not getting passed anymore. Here comes more guys falling and more guys being cattle and not thinking for themselves in picking lines. I ride around a few and get passed by a few, feeling good, starting to relax a bit and get in my groove. I hit the camel hump and some guy in front of my spins out his rear wheel and falls over in my line. I dismount take a step and swear I heard a pop in my left leg/calf. I take another step and almost have no control over my foot, I am on the inside line on the barrier, writhing in pain, as my friends and racing friends who all ask me how I am doing, if I am ok - (crazy - but nice, they ask). I put the front of my helmet on my saddle for a brief moment and contemplate what to do....is this something I should work through or a sign I should just stop, I find some motivation, hop on my cross bike, head back around, I try to think past the pain and focus on maybe finishing this thing. I pass a large group on a downhill, pass 5 more on the uphill through the finish line and gather my wits to just get it all over. I try not to think about the fact I am here "injured" again or the fact I won't be racing at day 3 of UCI3 at one of my favorite race courses of the year (Harbin Park) or the fact I most likely won't be healed in time to race at USGP - but just breath and suffer through the calf pain to get back up that damn camel hump. All those guys I passed, come flying by me, like they just started their race. I get up, down, almost back up the first hillside, but must slowly walk down and then try to walk back up again. I must throw the towel in and get out of this trainwreck. My race is over and the realization maybe my season is over sets in....next up fake smiles for my friends as I drag my tail again back home to crawl back into my virtual injury dog house.

By the clock, it's now officially, Tuesday as I type this book. Calf is still sore, so is my morale. If my uncle was still alive, he might consider taking me out to the far farm field and putting me out to pasture, fur good.

Friday, October 12, 2012

Pants on Fire - Liar Liar

Well,
this is what I have to say about the latest announcements regarding the fall of one of the most over marketed names/brands in the world of cycling.


Appears I predicted this in back in 2010. 

And my comment in the post above, regarding that blue cooler wasn't too far off....

This is a link to all the documents and facts regarding the investigation against LA and his crew of merry men - take a few hours, get informed:: http://cyclinginvestigation.usada.org/#

However, I am waiting to see the investigation outcome against the UCI and those at the top that allowed all this to occur for so long. They embraced the habits of so many including one big bully and his entourage of bullies. UCI learned from LA by even trying to bully our own little US cycling organization at some points during all this drama.

Today, Johan "the crack connection" announced he's leaving the RS team and organization. Quote today from CN, "The Radioshack-Nissan-Trek team described Bruyneel as the most successful directeur sportif in cycling history, but seven of the Tour de France victories he helped to direct are set to be nullified." Liar, Liar, Pants on Fire, Hanging on a Telephone Wire.

I am not in anyway bashing the sport I love so much, but more so pointing out that a few can ruin it for everyone. I accepted these practices many years ago and learned to accept they are part of the sport I care so much about. 

Unfortunately, the actions of few is how policies, procedures, laws, guidebooks, handbooks, rule books get made. Oddly enough, all these people were not following the procedures, rulebooks they signed off on when they bought their first USA Cycling racing license. 

I must bring up the 80/20 rule. 
20% of those out there are going to ruin it for the rest of us.
The 20% is always stealing oxygen from those of us following the rules. 

I am getting back to riding my cyclocross bike.
More on this another day.
Thanks for reading.

Opie

Friday, August 31, 2012

WTF: It's September Already - ShortTrack Mountain Bike Racing - 2012 Cyclocross

The season is upon us already.
Cross is Boss.
Can't say it enough. Maybe when December 20 rolls around I won't be so psyched.

<<This is how cyclocross pro's ride their bikes in a road race. Mad skills. If it was a requirement for all road racers to race cross and mountain bikes before entering a road race, there might not be wrecks every spring.





Let's see - what have I been up to...
Short Track Mountain Bike Racing -
3 out of the 4 events I attended. Quite fun, much like cross, 110% effort, full throttle only shorter in time. Still hard, and challenging. Short-track is about finding the best line you can pedal through, finding the right place to sit out of any wind, finding the right gear and mashing it around in a circle.
The last two races of the series, I focused on doing one race, the 1/2/3 race. 30 min plus one lap. Plenty.
The first race I did in the series, race #2, I did the 3's or "B" event then thought I could go out and race the 1/2/3 race and be competitive - um nope.
The Third race, I was doing well, sitting third place and had a mishap with a poorly judged turn, waited too long to lean and brake and removed my rear tubeless tire from one side of the rim - certainly it was the driver's fault (>this guy<). I got to borrow a bike, team mate fixed my tire, pumped me back up and received a nice cyclocross style bike swap and finished the race. However my mechanical and driving error, and third place was quickly dashed, since there are no "Pits" in short track - DNF for me - thank you very much.

My Team mates are crushing it this year.

The 'Rents - my dad the ex Coach giving me tips.
Last Sunday - my parents arrive to watch me win back their love, from a disappointing mechanical at previous race, and support me in the last short track of the season.
I got in a great warm up and toe the line with Garth, Phil Noble, Spencer, Joe Hall, and a bunch of other fast guys. 2 laps in, I am still hanging on to Spencer, Phil and Garth, gap starting to happen, Joe and I battle it out like two monkeys in a cage. We are hanging on to the 3 guys in front, barely, four laps in, Phil does a "look back" and just rides off the front of the race. Bam - I stand up to go and keep up with it - and um nope, not ready for prime time playah quite yet. Joe and I continue to battle and bury each other into the dirt and try to keep SupahSpencer and Dreadhead  Garth in sight. I waited till the bell to try and make a move and get in front of Joe to get at least 4th and made it happen. Good day out there to watch a 1/2/3 race for friends and fans. I had to congratulate Joe after, that's racing and fun racing for sure.
I won a Sufferfest Video for 4th and got to stand on the grass near 3rd place for the podiums. Good day on the old 650b wheel'd mountain bike.


    2012 Cyclocross Racing Schedule - (through September)
  • Sept 9 - Lionharts CX 'Benefit' Race
  • Sept 9 - NEOCX - Cleveland Cascade Park Race
  • Sept 9 - Driving over to watch my good friend Judy finish her first Cedar Point IRONMAN "Rev3" after my Cleveland CX Race is over.
  • Sept 16 - NEOCX - Cleveland Cross - @Wendy Park (love this place)
      • >>  For sure CapCity - Sunday is a Maybe
  • Sept 22 - CapCityCross - Infirmary Mound Park (Newark/Granville Area)
  • Sept 23 - NEOCX - Cleveland Cross @Brooklyn
  • Sept 30 - St. Mary’s Cyclocross, Indianapolis, IN (Maybe if I can share a ride)

Monday, July 9, 2012

I am still alive - Riding, Training, Windham World Cup-650b and Watching the Tour

I live on.
I need to get back to blogging about bike stuff.

I've been racing here and there, training as I can, and heading to Tour of the Valley Stage Race with TeamSixOneFour next weekend.

Things with Team614 are amazing, exciting and really great this year. We've added quite a few new members and things have just clicked this year. Lots of growth, lots of great people, more ladies, and some super exciting things in the works for us for cyclocross season. Kristian and Katherine are now State Road Champions, Doug just outside the podium. Allison, showed up at our practice crits two Tuesday's in a row, then races at the Tour D' Grandview and wins her first ever Crit. Props to the team.

I traveled to the Windham World Cup UCI event last weekend, which was awesome, I've got quite a few photos from that....
I rode the course a few times and enjoyed the technical aspects of it - the climbing was brutal from a racing perspective, compared to what I'm used to riding and racing.

I spent last Saturday evening eating dinner/drinks with, Stan' of No Tubes Wife/owner, Team Kenda/Seven (Mary McConneloug and Michael Broderick) and the Stans No Tubes Women's team. Some of the nicest people I ever encountered. Mary and Mike are sponsored by Kenda and even brought us some yummy cold tea, rice crackers and dip early in our week....pro's just real pro's and down to earth people. An experience I won't ever forget.

Mike even got on my mountain bike for a quick bit on Sunday and had some setup suggestions for me - which I will implement shortly when I have some time. Mike is a detail guy and has an amazing understanding of bikes, and related technology. Mary is an amazing woman, person, bike racer and inspiration. They both, are great listeners, humble people and are just so fit, and awe inspiring to view as athletes and human beings.
I've acquired some prototype Kenda 650b tires, now installed, on my Stans NoTubes 650b crest wheels on my 26" mountain bike that created quite a buzz out in front of the Kenda Tent in the Expo area. The Argentinians, Mexico team, Dominican team, South American teams and a few others all were interested and currently racing this wheel size.

"Rumor" has it, several of the Pro XC racers will be on newly designed 650b bikes for 2013. I saw quite a few of the Euro pros - men and women - all racing various 26" bikes and new prototype 650b bikes, with 650b/27.5 wheels.
On our way out of the hotel in Big Flats, NY, Stan's wife, rolled up next to the van in her car at DunkinDognuts (who doesn't love a good doughnut). She invited us back to tour the No Tubes facility and meet Stan himself, his wife and family and other amazing nice people that work at the facility. It was impressive to say the least. Stan is a obviously a technically minded guy and continues to innovate and develop new technologies. Inside and outside of the office, he likes to perfect his bow/arrow skills. No photos were permitted inside, because of all the new and current super secret things in progress.

I acquired a new 70's Schwinn 5-speed Bike project that is coming along quite nicely. It will make a nice bike to ride around town. After taking it apart, it appears, it had never been maintained, since there was not a drop of grease in the crank, headset, or either wheel. However, whomever originally owned the bike, kept it out of the rain, all the rust was just surface and cleaned up quite nicely. Funny part is I think it might weigh 40lbs.


Looking forward to cross season for sure....assembling a few things and planning to get on the CX bike in August.

Last few stages of the Tour very, exciting. I haven't dug around for any new 2012 Tour Tech stuff....will get to it.

Friday, February 24, 2012

Spring Motivation - Pecha Kucha - Coaching Biz

I've been working on finding and making time during the day to ride and get my endorphins going during the daylight hours in order to get the brain and body moving on the same horizontal line so to speak.

My weekends have been full of longer rides with the team or groups of people from 3 to 4 hours. Some of them have been painful, in a good way and others have been painful, like last Sunday, in not such a good way. Sometimes, there are those moments where you feel so good so strong, you need to get up front and pull into the wind for several miles just to feel the good pain in your legs, back and quads. Other times, you dig and dig till there is no more fuel in the tank to keep you going.THIS is spring training. Finding that balance point of pain  and suffering. Remembering the feelings of fitness and being fit, those moments of standing up and climbing with no concern for how much your legs hurt, because they don't.
---This week I got back on the training wagon and am hoping to get back my riding legs and my lungs and a quicker recovery time.

Other news: I presented at the local Columbus Pecha Kucha chapter 5th Anniversary event last week at our Museum of Art. It was a big deal (at least for me) and a tough challenge to find 20 interesting slides, the right photos and the right words (script) and text to bring it all together. I think over 1000 people showed up to celebrate this unique way of presenting your passion. With cycling on the brain, I put this together with the idea of where cycling has taken me in MY life, and where it can take YOU.



Hopefully the presentation, will inspire you to get out on your bicycle in some shape or form.


Lastly, I started a cycling coaching business of my own. I've been thinking about this for over a year, the BWE has been harassing me and so have a few other people that know me well. With encouragement and information from a few key people, I have taken on the challenge. My good friend, developed a logo for my coaching biz and I now have business cards and a nice marketing type flyer. Hopefully a small website is around the corner. I have a few athletes already and hope others will soon jump on board, so I can help them achieve their goals. My cyclocross racing, endurance mountain biking background, and road racing all provide insight into what it takes mentally and physically. Let me know if you have an interest, we can talk.