Thursday, December 18, 2008

Mr. CX Un-Cracks

Since my last post was at the start of MSG 2008, It's only fitting I bookend it with another. This has probably been my worst cross season as far as results, but the most fun in the five years I've been doing it. I've done 17 races since October 5th and everyone of them has been a blast. Of course all of the mechanicals haven't been a blast, but after about the fifth one in a row, I quit whining and decided I must need a lesson in humility. One benefit to doing that many races in two months is the weight loss. I thought I had gained weight but venturing on to the scale last night I was surprised to find I am 4lbs lighter than two months ago! Still got that inner tube although it is smaller, at 47 I'm thinking it's always going to be there, so I've quit worrying about it.

There have been several highlights to this season thus far:
the USGP in Loiusville, the UCI race in Hendersonville, having a good group of folks to travel with, but the biggest and brightest highlight has been MSG. Especially the last Three races. I must say being a race organizer for this many races is very daunting at times and can wear you down, but halfway through it became very special to me. Especially since this may be my last year organizing the event. The best thing about it is seeing it all come to life on race day. Arriving early in the morning just as the sun is coming up, cold air, hot coffee, the camaraderie, the work, all make it really special. Over the course of a few hours the open fields and wooded hills become decorated with brightly colored course tape and sponsor's banners, all whipping in the wind like the parade ground of a medieval tournament. It's like a sleeping dragon that slowly appears from the ground to lay in wait for the first group of riders to jump on it's back and snake around it lap after lap. People start to trickle in and music starts to echo around the park and all is spontaneity, tension and energy, as the start line is populated with the first group to race. The races start and all to soon are over. Slowly, people trickle away until all is left is the dragon. Slowly coming down, once again the dragon fades into the mist to return another day. Designing courses, and the bringing it into realty has been very rewarding to me, and not to toot my own horn, I think I've enjoyed the MSG courses as good as any others I've raced on.

The final race was a blast and I'm sorry everyone who went to nationals missed it. The course included the infamous run up dubbed this year the "Redline Run up". This was the place to be as rider after rider struggled to gain the summit while being cheered on by the crowd at the top. By the time the Pro 1/2 race rolled through things were getting pretty rowdy as someone thought it would be a good idea(Kris Bedsaul?) to put dollar bills on the run-up. It was amazing to see the acrobatics involved in coming into the run up, trying to carry as much speed as possible, dismount, shoulder the bike, and pick up dollars all while running up a 25% grade! As if that wasn't enough, the challenge went up to see who could ride the run up and Santa of all people was up to the challenge! He Rode it at least four times that I can remember almost from a dead stop. Each time he made it the cheers went up and the bells rang. Other prizes were to be had by the end of the single speed-juniors race. The festivus tree was decorated with MSG socks for those showing great feats of strength to grab when gaining the top of the hill.

After the last race we all gathered in the pavilion for Nave burgers and dawgs, the awarding of prizes and the Uber Raffle. The Uber Raffle included, a certificate for a complete Chris King Wheelset, a Redline Conquest Pro Frame, an Alpha Q Cross fork, along with a bazillion other prizes totaling almost $3000.00 in retail value! This had to be the biggest give away we have ever had in five years of MSG. Thanks of course to our generous Uber Sponsors and to MSG founder Eric Wondergem who did most of the work gaining sponsorship from such quality companies. It's over now, at least for 9 months when hopefully another MSG series will be born and continue the tradition that was started by Eric five years ago. This was our greatest attended series yet with 693 entries! Thanks Eric for bringing the best of all the disciplines of cycling to the Tri Cities, thanks to all of the volunteers, thanks to Bart "Big Neckid" Nave for the excellent photography, and thanks to TCRC for whole heartedly getting behind the craziness! Thanks to everyone who raced and made this the biggest and best year so far! MORE COW BELL!!!

Mr.CX

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Mr.CX Cracks


Cyclocross season is in full swing now, and attendance at all of the races I've been to so far has been phenomenal! The first weekend of MSG was a huge success with 242 entries over the two days of racing. It was so good to see people I hadn't seen since last Fall, a few I looked for were missing, I hope the show up in November. The course was demanding and the racing was hard and fast ( people just continue to get faster). It's amazing to me how fast you can go on a CX bike!

I had a great start to the season at the first race in Parrotsville finishing 4th in the 45+ field, however from that point on it's been all down hill, one of those teeth rattling bone jarring descents. MSG #1 pretty much sucked. I had a good start and was moving up in position until halfway around the course when I rolled my back tire and had to hobble back to the pit for a wheel change. At that point I was pretty well finished for the day I kept but kept riding. I've only DNF'ed one time and I didn't want to do it again. Managed two from last place.

Saturday was a long day, and being on my feet from 6:00 AM to 6:00PM didn't help my race on Sunday. When I got up Sunday morning I could feel the tiredness in my entire body, and I hoped that I had enough to race later in the day. Organizing races is very stressful, and when you add to it officiating every race except for the one your in, it begins to be no fun and a lot of work. I had another good start and was gaining on the three leaders as I battled another guy for position, but after two laps I started to shut down. What energy I had was draining away, and each time through the second sand pit I didn't have the power to push through and got stuck at the end. After chasing down the guy I was with each time that happened I became frustrated and cracked. I walked through the sand, over the barriers and stopped to fix course tape. People would ask me what was wrong. I whined and complained about how tired I was and did just about everything but throw a tantrum, stick my lip out and stomp my feet. I was pretty embarrassed with my self afterwords. What was even more embarrassing was the sound of crickets when I went by the DJ each lap. Previously he had yelled out" Here comes Mr. CX", but like everyone else he realized that Mr. CX cracked.

This passed weekend we traveled to Fayetteville, TN for the new "Beat the Freak" series. This series has the potential to become a big series. The venue was great, Lincoln County High School, and the promoter Kevin Freeman is Mr. Enthusiasm. Never having raced in a cross race or organized one he did an awesome job. The course he laid out was wide and fast, a real big ring course, not very technical (not what MSG'ers are used to), but even without the technical aspect is suited me since it was long and flat. Of course here is where the rest of the bone jarring descent continues. Not being responsible for anything left me at a loss, and with to much time on my hands I didn't pay attention to time and rolled up to the start finish line and what do you know, they left without me, four minutes ago! This was a first for me. I've never missed the start of an event. I rode my ass of for last place, never did catch anyone.

Sunday morning I felt fresh, slept well, legs felt good, no heaviness in them. This will be my day. Everyone sure took advantage of my missed start on the day before to give me a little ribbing. I received constant reminders of the time from friends and officials all day, so I made the start well before start time. Another good start, in fifth place as we turned into the stadium, began to get past on the short steep pitch to the top, but i wasn't worried since I knew with the long flat stretch coming up I could turn the 50x13 to easily get back in position. So much for that plan, as I exited the stadium transitioning from pavement to grass in a hard left turn my seatpost clamp came loose and my saddle slid halfway down.

Each time through the Pit I switched bikes with Mike Seek till he got my seat adjusted. On one pass I got tangled up, hit the deck and rolled. Another last place. I'm starting to get used to it. Even with the crappy results, I still had fun, it is cross after all. My friend Mike Seek did great, his best effort of the weekend was winning the single speed race in a full on sprint. Going to Louisville this weekend for the USGP, can't wait.


Thursday, September 18, 2008

Spontaneity

If any of you have laboured through reading this blog over the last year you'll have noted that It's pretty biased towards cyclocross. Not sorry for that, it is the best sport around, especially in any of the cycling disciplines. Which brings me to something else I noted at cross practice last night. Spontaneity. CX Practice started pretty much as usual, heart rate out the top of my head on the first lap of the pretty hilly course, trying to keep up with the faster guys, letting out air in the tires, running barriers, general asphyxiating fun! After about four laps I noticed a group forming near the barriers, people just chatting not really wanting to go as hard as we were. Demonstarting dismounting and remounting to new comers, doing crazy stuff like trying to dismount and remount on the right side of the bike. Over the course of conversation, people started riding as slow as possible around in tight overlapping circles, track standing when your path was blocked by another rider seeing who could stand the longest. Good hearted fun and laughter. We must of looked really strange to other people in the park ( if you are a cyclist of any stripe you are used to that though). Eventually, Mike Seek our unofficial leader and one of the Wise Micheals, started riding around light poles that formed a triangle and people started to follow. Spontaneity happened, and everyone followed suit riding around like crazy meeting in the middle heading toward the next light pole, whipping left an right to avoid colliding with each. Faster and faster we rode, all right hand turns, and the like a square dance everyone turned a rode in the opposite direction. Soon we were just riding in one big loop around two of the poles, and jumping the barrier at the third point of the triangle. Racing each other to the turn, cutting each other off, and laughing the whole way. This went on until the sun was setting. That's the longest I can remember staying on Wednesday nights. It was spontaneous! Imagine trying to do something like that on a road ride, and I know it's a different animal, but cross is so open to creativity and freedom of movement and such a social thing. You actually get to know the people that show up each week. Sometimes when I'm riding the road a lot I feel like I'm in a coloring book and can't go outside the lines. Thank goodness it's only three weeks till cross season starts, where the lines are constantly moving.

Friday, September 12, 2008

Running Behind

Well, this past Wednesday was the first of the 4 Cyclocross training races hosted by Ned Dowling and the folks at Biowheels of Asheville. The race was held at Jackson Park in Hendersonville, NC. I have to say, I was very nervous on the way over the mountains as to how things would turn out but also happy and exited that it is the beginning of cross season. On the way over I questioned my fitness level, I'm fit, but not in race condition and was even wondering if I should race the 30:00 "A" race.

Upon arrival and seeing the course set up with lots and lots of turns and a ride/run up, self said to self "you gotta go 45" then you'll have a benchmark. Even though this was only a training race I still got the jitters lining up with about 20 other riders. All but a handful that were Pro's and CX3's. Mike and I took our rightful place in the back with a few girls. Girls that looked like they could beat us. The start was pretty fast and we all got gnarled up in a big wad at the first narrowing of the course. Why is everyone pulling away from us? next thing I new I was even behind the girls. As things usually go for me after a few laps, things settled down, and people started coming back to me as I pushed to catch them. Realizing that this is a training race and not wanting to burn matches I'll need later in the year, I went hard but not to hard. I eased of and let the people go that I was gaining on. I did however get into an impromptu competition with one of the ladies. I caught her and passed her, and a few laps later, as I was getting lapped for the second time and moving over as a courtesy to the faster riders the girl on the MTB went passed me. Now racing, even a training race, is more fun if you have someone to compete with. I certainly can't compete with pro 1/2 guys and most of the CX 3's, but it was fun to push a little harder and swap places with someone on the course.

The course was the perfect training venue, all the elements that you need to master were a part of the course. Hills, ride/runup, lots of tight turns, sweeping turns, a long flat, a transition from grass to pavement, pavement to gravel, and of course two sets of barriers. Anyone who is a beginner needs to do the next race on September 24th. Far better to hone skills at Wednesday Night Cross than at an actual race.

All in all I didn't do to bad:

  1. made the 45:00 (back hurt toward the end)
  2. felt good the whole time
  3. rode the ride/run up each time (dabbed once at the top)
  4. didn't get beat by the girls
  5. wasn't last
  6. and, Dwight Wyatt didn't lap me.(close but no banana)
I can tell that I'm definitely behind where I was last year, but maybe I'll be in better shape toward the middle of the season when things really get tough. It sure is good to get a race in and back on the CX bike.

PS: go here read my bud Dwight's blog. He did a much better job of descriping the experience (especially the snot), plus there's pics!

Sunday, September 7, 2008

Crossin' on the Creeper

I'm really happy with my cross bike. It has to be the most versatile bike I have. It can be ridden on paved roads, gravel roads, dirt roads, mtb trails, and of course raced in a cross race. A few years ago I rode my Bianchi on the Virginia Creeper Trail and was so happy with it on that kind of terrain that I never road the MTB on it again (sold it a few months ago). Ever since riding on the Creeper I wanted to ride the entire trail from Abingdon to White top and back, which is 66.8 miles. If you ride on the road a lot that doesn't sound that impressive, but riding on the surface of a former rail road bed requires a lot more effort than a smoothly paved road.

We were supposed to start riding at nine from Abingdon, but I got to Jeff's late, and then he forgot some of his stuff, so by the time we got there it was 9:40. Mike was taking a look at Jonell "AC" Johnson's chain when he realized the one link had completely separated from the outside of the chain, so rather than send her back home we shortened the chain and finally got underway around 10:00 AM. There was a lot of traffic on the trail, good looking runners who must have been kin, they all had "Shorter" on their shirts. After weaving through all the runners we rolled pretty fast at around 15 to 16 mph. The trail was beautiful, a corridor of trees and then open fields. When we arrived at Alvarado I looked up the road and thought I saw a dog crossing the trail when someone else saw and yelled bear! It was huge, about as tall as my saddle is from the ground. Probably around three hundred pounds. I joined in the chorus of "bear, bear, bear!" as people back in the parking lot we had just past began walking toward where we were. The bear ran across the road and up hill, stopped, turned and looked at us for about 20 seconds and then wondered off in to the bushes. Fortunately, it must have been a male since there were no cubs around. I'd have been hauling ass in the other direction if there had been.

After about an hour we rolled into Damascus and took "AC" over to Adventure Damascus to get her chain replaced. We talked the whole to time to Dave, another South African American. He seemed pretty surprised when I asked him if he was from South Africa, and seemed happy that some one in his adopted country new of his home country. Once the chain was fixed we started out of Damascus and up to White Top, which is a steady grade that runs for almost 17 miles getting steeper the more you near White Top. I've never seen so many herds of unhelmeted riders of the larger persuasion, putting along in a coast as we actually climbed faster than they descended. Got a lot of strange looks as we passed on road bikes at a fast pace. Many people gave the thumbs up. I think we were the only people on the whole trail going up hill? Climbing at the pace we were, on the rough surface, and knobby tires, hunger made it's way into the situation and I new if we didn't stop and eat on the way back I was going to bonk. Never get this way on a road ride. No one else objected to the idea.

After a very fast descent from White Top, slowed intermittently by the herds, we stopped at Taylor's Valley and ate at the Creeper Trail Cafe. That place has to be a gold mine since every time I've been there the place is packed. Had an awesome hamburger and french fries, really hit the spot,
lots of annoying music playing though. On the trail again Jeff and I were "attacking" each other as he puts, but that was short lived as the awesome hamburger tried to come up. Racing each other put us ahead of everyone, so I made the obligatory stop at Mojoe's coffee shop while everyone caught up. Nothing like a good cup off coffee in the middle of a 70 mile ride. There should be coffee stands on the side of the road on every route we ride..... I digress. On the way out of Damascus I noticed the only Rail on the whole trail. We were riding pretty fast at about 20mph when I dodged it. Billy hit it and blew a tire for the second time on the day. "AC" decided to ride on ahead while Billy repaired his tire. Repairs completed, we started off to catch "AC." The flat tires, and the urge to just be done with it must have taken hold of Billy. We started off at reasonable pace off 20mph when Billy came around like he had a bee up his shorts and accelerated up to 24mph! 24mph on a pea gravel surface, with knobby tires? I never thought I would be riding on the Creeper trail in a pace line at 24mph. After about a mile he finally swung off and we slowed to a reasonable 21, since that was as fast as I could go. We caught Jonell pretty quickly. The last eight miles were about as hard as anything I've ever done and with three miles to go Billy took off again and I went too. We were of the same mind " I'm ready to get this done". It rained for a few miles but just as we got back to Abingdon the bright sun returned.

This was a great ride, something different and great training.
I rode 73 miles and averaged 15mph. The combination of the distance, terrain, and pace, kicked my butt. I felt like a had done a road ride with multiple mountain climbs. Can't wait to do it again, may even ride slow enough to enjoy the scenery.

Sunday, August 17, 2008

Been A Long Summer

This summer has been pretty hectic and seems to have flown by. Had a lot of good rides though some of which were very demanding. Haven't raced any and only done one TT. I feel stronger than this time last year, but I can't climb anymore? I guess loosing two months of riding in the spring has gotten me behind and still haven't gotten down to the wieght I was this time last year. Cycling is such a hard sport. Most of us have to put in a lot of effort just to be mediocre.

The best part of riding this summer has been the buddies. Thursday nights especially when we all pile into Buck's pizza after the ride for Pizza, Libation, and Laughs. We've had a lot of laughs and it's amazing what you see sometimes, like the picture my friend Jonell took. Gas prices are high, so I guess if you have a BIG KID you're feeling the pinch and have to get rid of them. Maybe they could work out a trade with the parents of little kids?

The end of summer means the start of Cyclocross. I've been up to my elbows in organizing the ole' MSG and a new race this year near Greenville, TN: Meadow Creek Mountain Cyclocross. Lots of good things coming this fall can't hardly wait. Running will have to start soon, as well as weekly CX training at Kiwanis park. Cool thing is there will be a training series in Hendersonville. I can't wait for that.

Sunday, June 15, 2008

......and life goes on

As the saying goes "life goes on". It is inevitable, when someone dies, we grieve and mourn, but we the living continue until our date with destiny. Today is Father's Day and it's the first one in my life that I haven't went to visit my Granddad. Still tough not having him around.

It's been a long eight weeks since my last posting getting on with life and back to riding. My friend Perry lost his mother and another dear friend had surgery that didn't go so well but has recovered now. It's also been a busy time helping with the final preparations for the Settlers life Omnium which was very successful this year. I've also been helping with the Kingsport Criterium and even started on the organization of MSG cross even though it's still four months away, a lot of perpetration to be done.

Riding has been so good this year. I'm probably in the worst shape I've been in in years, but going slower and riding with my head up instead of down all time has been very enjoyable. Especially on Thursday nights. The TNR had become the highlight of the week, a thirty mile ride and then Pizza and libation at Buck's pizza, lots of laughs and camaraderie and crazy people in cars (unless you are a cyclist or work with the public you wouldn't believe how "eat up with dumbass" most people are). It's amazing to me over the past 15 years I've been riding, all of the good solid people of met through cycling, very few duds. Like my friend Mike Seek said "cyclists are inherently good people" and I've found that to be true. We have developed a close nit and strong cycling community in the last few years and I'm proud to be associated with it and the good things our club does for the local community.

Time to get serious though. Four months and we'll be racing cross, so I've got get rid of those last 10lbs and back to my svelte bald self come October and cross season. It's better than Christmas when you were a kid.

Hope you like the photo's below taken at my surprise birthday party at Buck's, boy was I surprised. Don't usually get duped like that, hook, line and stinker. Thanks to Jonell and her camera.








Monday, April 21, 2008

My Granddad


2008 hasn't been a good year so far. A lot has happened in the last three month's. Most recently my Granddad died as a result of emphysema. His right lung collapsed at the first of March and from then on his strength failed him. He became weaker each week until he couldn't breath any longer and left this life on April 15th, 2008.

My Granddad was one of Tom Brokaw's greatest generation. Granddad was a testament to that generation. He lived through the depression, served in WWII, came home and worked hard all his life, raised a daughter and practically raised me. He was kind, loving, honest an all around good person. He set an example that most of us should strive for. Very few people are of his caliber, and I hope that I am at least a little like him. Watching him slowly struggle for breath the past six weeks has been very hard on my family and myself. Needless to say I haven't been riding, but it was worth it to see him every morning and every evening until he passed on to his reward. If anyone was ever deserving of it he was.

I appreciate all of the email condolences, phone calls, and everyone who was able to come to the funeral. It really meant a lot to to hear from you and see you.

Thanks for all you did for me Granddad. I miss you.

Donald Nathaniel Patrick B. 9-20-1916 D. 4-15-08

Thursday, March 27, 2008

Ronde van Vlaanderen: In a perfect world

Stole this from another site, nice if it were like that here.

Two Tons of Fun

I'm out of shape. I remember when I was in shape, thinking that it wasn't that great that I should be in better shape. After essentially being of the bike for six weeks (only rode 5 times and not in a row) beginning to realize that where I was was pretty good. I really miss where I was. Sickness, family pressures and a big dose of the mullygrubs haven't allowed for much riding. That was blindingly evident this past Tuesday at our club ride ( which a really is more like a race than a ride). Still had plenty of power on the flats ala CX, but the gravity demons really enjoy grabbing hold of the extra tonnage around the mid section, and pulling me backwards like a bug's intestines after bug hits windshield. Really can't believe how fast the mighty have fallen. Last November I was a svelte 166lbs, now the scale is edging up to 178! 14 L B's! When you get old it's harder and harder to keep the weight off, especially if you're only exercising your table muscle. It is getting warmer an I keep telling myself I'm going to fix up that "vintage" Motobecane for a commuter and start riding to work again, but the Moto just keeps hanging on the hook. Lack of motivation is the devil. I can hear it saying why bother, whats the use. Eat, drink and be merry.

Saturday, March 1, 2008

Life is but a Vapor...

Life is but a vapor... That's what the pastor said two weeks ago at the funeral of one of my daughters best friends. The quote is from the bible, paraphrasing: "life is but a vapor that appears but for a moment and then is gone" Nicole was only twenty three when she took her own life. I didn't know her well but it has affected me deeply. She was young, and pretty, but life was just to much for her, she couldn't cope. The last time I saw her was at the Chattanooga cross race. She had my big cow bell and was running along beside me yelling and screaming, having a good time. You never know the inner turmoil someone is dealing with, from their outward appearance. I feel bad for her family and friends, and hope that in time they can come to terms.

If I've taken any thing from her death it is, life is way to short and we need to love now, do now, and be thankful for every breath we take, every day that we wake up. Each time I get on my bike I'm thankful to get to do it again, no matter how bad it hurts. I know this post isn't about CX or bike racing, but I feel like I should honor her in some way. This for you Nicole Renee Johnson where ever you may be.

Wednesday, February 13, 2008

Winter Cyclocross Part 3

I think I'm starting to loose motivation for cx at last, with only one race left, small turnout and no big events to look forward to. It's kind of aggravating since I don't do the mountain bike and I don't care much for road racing, that leaves the cycling side of me a little listless. Which leads to weight gain. Last year after the last cross race in February I gained 8lbs before I finally started riding long rides on weekends to shed it. At 46 soon to be 47 it doesn't come off quick. I've tried to do better this year and with a TT the first week of March maybe I can get motivated for that.

Knoxicross #3 was a grind. Held at Melton Hill Park which is way out in the boonies ( don't ever want to hear about Steele Creek being out of the way again ) and is surrounded by a lake with very hilly terrain. When I got there I new it wouldn't be my day. I was tired, and my legs were fatigued and sore from running the previous few days. The course was 90% grass, thick power sapping grass, and half the course had long open uphill sections which were exposed to the wind.

The start was no fun, going uphill, on grass, into the wind, I felt as if someone was pushing
against my shoulders (the picture at below showing the spare tubular, and man boobs illustrates the other problem) and as we turned right at the top of the hill a rider caught a pedal and kicked his back wheel over in front of me. I shot to the outside of the turn almost stopping. At that point a gap opened up and there was no way I was closing to the guys I usually race with. The only saving grace was the more technical side near the lake I was able to slowly pull people back each lap on that section. I have never been so glad for a race to be over as I was that one.



The last race will be at Melton Hill again with the infamous "Hill of Death". THe HOD is a long dirt path that goes uphill at about a 20% grade for around 70'. That's why I started running again. Last year all I could do was shuffle up while getting caught at the top by a women on a MTB with a cog on the back the size of a dinner plate. Oh well one to go and then what?

Friday, February 1, 2008

Winter Cyclocross Part 2

After the State race I decided to race in NC rather than go all the
way to Columbia Tn. Had everything packed and ready to head to Hobby Park in Wintson-Salem, when my friend Mike called to tell me that the race had been canceled. What? Who cancels a cross race because of the weather! Turns out it was the park, not the organizers. Great, should have went to Columbia and raced in the arctic conditions there.

January 26-27:
Chattanooga had a great venue, fast, flat course with lots of turns, and
once again a lot of mud. The ride/run up on the back of the course was very slippery but ridable thanks to the tubies. I had another good race. Hoping to move up in the points I raced hard and moved into second position ahead of Tom Gee, whom I have never finshed ahead of. I noticed that he was having trouble in the muddy turn before the barriers and run up, so I raced into the turn ahead of him and got a gap by the time we reached the top of the ride run up. With no lap count going through the finish I thought we were further into the race when I made the move. Turns out we had 4 laps to go and I had burned a lot of cake pulling away from Tom. As I started to fade he caught me on the last lap. He passed me just before the finish and I had nothing to answer with. Still, finishing third moved me up in the points series.

Knoxicross #2
was held at Victor Ashe Park in Knoxville. This park is very similar in terrain as Winged Deer In JC, but has a lot more trees. This was a power course, and Steve Rider who has been helping with course design did a great job on this course. From the gun there was no let up in the pace and no place to recover. A lot of people wore down qucikly. I was suprised when I caught and passed Tom and thought he would come back to me. Each time down the long bumpy hill on the back of the course I would pedal till I spun out, shift to the little ring, brake hard and pick my way through the muddy "U" turn at the bottom. Each time down the hill I would pull a little further ahead. Ended up second on the day.

Knoxicross is becoming a great series, John Baker and his volunteers have made it better each year. Looking forward to the last two races of the year at Melton Hill Park and the "Wall of Death". Hate to see CX season in TN end. The day after the last race will be like the day after Christmas when you were a kid.

Winter Cyclocross Part 1

I've always wanted to try tubular tires on my CX bike since I've heard how great they are in all conditions, but couldn't really afford them. My friend Mike Seek got wind of it and helped my out by giving me a Campy wheel set with Vittoria CX tires glued to the rims. He built the back wheel himself with a hub donated from another friend Paul Hayes. I really appreciate it, and they really do make a difference.

Salisbury was my first race in a month and I was wondering about form, so I decided to go down for the CX 4 race. Got there late, didn't get to pre ride the course, and since it was my first race on tubies I took it easy the first two laps. Ended up 17 out of 35. I was sold on the tubies after the race and it looks like the clinchers will be sitting in the pits from now on.

January 12-13:Knoxicross #1 was the following Saturday in Knoxville. The course was a favourite of mine since I won there last year. Not so this year. I raced masters 45+ ended up fifth, but I could feel the form coming back. Great course that really suited me with all the turns and flat power sections. Plus, it was good to see my buddy Dwight from Asheville at the race.



Sunday was the big race of the winter season. The first ever Tennessee State Cyclocross Championship, which was sponsored by my club. The course was probably the most demanding, technical, and long course I've ever ridden. The course had everything, pavement, mud, sand, grass, three dismounts and did I say mud. One section was a long stretch of course wide mud leading down into a flat, it looked like the videos you see of the muddy Euro races. It was a blast, and the low pressure in the tubies made a difference.

This was probably the best race I've ever had even though I didn't win (didn't expect to). I at
least wanted to medal. Since it was a TCRC event the TCRC officiating team was there with honorary member Vicki Lyons from Boone, and as part of my duties I was also officiating. After the CX 4 race I went to post results and stopped to answer questions and lost track of time. My race was the next race. Standing at the Finish line putting my helmet on thinking I need to get to the start, I looked down the road and saw the field racing toward me! Oh shizzle! I missed the start. When the last rider went through I jumped in behind, and when I topped the hill I saw Jeremy Chandler exiting the woods. Wait, he's a three, and I'm in the wrong race. Riding back the down the field parraleling the course I tried to get to the start before the masters came through. To late. They went flying by, so I waited again. After the last women (they were in the same race ) went through and got back on the course at the bottom of the hill again. I was so angry I started thrashing my bike up the hill and through the first technical section with no one in site. Chasing hard for the first two laps (10 min laps) I finally caught the back of the race. I raced past riders mud flying, sliding through turns finally riding past Greg Casteel. Realizing that I had third position, I extended the gap, but got too exited on the fast decent on the backside of the course and crashed hard. When I remounted and looked back Greg had closed half the gap. Powering the bike with everything I had I pulled a little further away. Coming to the end of the final lap I could hear people yelling for me and Greg. Approaching the sand pit I new I should get off and run since I struggled through the last time, but at the last moment I decided to ride it. About half way through the front wheel augured in and through me over the handlebars landing me in the sand on the wrong side of the bike. By the time I got up and got back to the Banchee, Greg blew by me. I didn't have anything left and the gap woudn't close. Greg beat me to the line by 30 feet. I was pretty po'ed because I had raced so hard from beyond last place and screwed up on the last lap by crashing twice. Riding down to the bike wash trying to tell myself, "just be glad you can do this, a lot of people can't even ride a bike let alone race" it was still hard to swallow. When I returned to the finish area to resume officiating. I found out that I had actually been racing for second not third, so I actually ended up medaling. I was very happy and proud of that achievement. State CX photos can be found here Sidetracked Magazine

The rest of the TCRC CX team did really well medaling in all categories but two and Mike Seek took home the Single Speed Championship Jersey. What a great club, and team. Dan Werle did an excellent job designing a Championship course.

Tuesday, January 1, 2008

Happy New Year! Thank Goodness


Seems like forever since my last cross race of 2007up at Hawksnest. I'm really looking forward to this weekend in Salisbury, NC and the beginning of the Wintercup series, really can't wait to see how bad I suck. I've gained 4 pounds over the holidays, and haven't stuck to training like I should. Lots of racing left in the 2007/2008 season though, in NC and TN. So, maybe by the end of January I'll be back in form (or at least what passes for form for me).

I'd really like to do well at the TN CX Championship race on January 13, but I'm to far gone. The course sounds awesome though it will be fun. Spring will be here before you know it and no more cross till October. Guess I'll have to live off TT's till Cross season 2008/2009 rolls around again. More MSG for me!