9.08.2008
End of the mtb season = start of CX!!!
What can I say? Okay, I've been missing a LOT in the blogsphere.
My final mtb race of the season was this past weekend. Woke during the night to the sound of rain. Again later. Got up and it was still raining. A quick look at the weather radar indicated I'd be following this weather across the state and racing in rain. Okay, good warm up for the CX season. Training and prep have been delayed as I've continued to struggle with some lower back and hip issues. But, I CAN ride the bike and that is a very happy thing. So it was load up the van and hustle to that race.
Fall is in the air and that means ONE THING! Boyz and Grrrrls it is time for cyclocross. Break out the cowbells and get those tubulars glued on!
Matt shot a bunch of video from the Stony race and put this together.
My final mtb race of the season was this past weekend. Woke during the night to the sound of rain. Again later. Got up and it was still raining. A quick look at the weather radar indicated I'd be following this weather across the state and racing in rain. Okay, good warm up for the CX season. Training and prep have been delayed as I've continued to struggle with some lower back and hip issues. But, I CAN ride the bike and that is a very happy thing. So it was load up the van and hustle to that race.
Fall is in the air and that means ONE THING! Boyz and Grrrrls it is time for cyclocross. Break out the cowbells and get those tubulars glued on!
Matt shot a bunch of video from the Stony race and put this together.
7.07.2008
Been biking, not posting...
Have to say that I've been having much fun and just don't seem to get to the blog. Do you really care what I've been up to? Heck...you're all off having a good time too.
Quick summary of the spring
Marin, CA: had a great opportunity to go to Adnan's PCG camp. Awesome experience. Stellar riding, scenery and food.
Bedford, VA: what has become an annual training trek. Good for the baseline each season.
Cohutta 100: kicked off what has been a wet race season. Awesome race, fun times, endless climbing. Final twenty miles are so much fun!
Mohican 100: ended up doing the 100k. This was a training race and the way things were going, taking the shorter route seemed to be the best thing. Rare that I listen to reason in the midst of a race.
Brighton XC was in there somewhere. Legs still tired from the prior weekend, lower back normally chills out on the bike. This day....it was two hours before it finally got quiet. Race was still a bunch of fun.
Lumberjack 100: Awesome! Everything came together for this one. It all worked great. The Eriksen 29er hardtail is the bike of choice for this course. The pit crew was perfect, the trail...well there were those bog sections after all the rain. But the rest of it rocked. Even some appropriate CX 'barrier' work in there. Feeding went good until the final 90 minutes of the day. Glad the race was nearing the end there. Good folks on the trail. Mixed it up with a bunch of folk. Had crazy luck at the awards that evening too.
Since then? Taking my 'winter' break. Not riding much, kayaking some and riding easy. Soon it'll be back to "work" training. Maybe a couple XC races to keep me motivated, A couple long CX events after summer and then a late start on regular CX. Looking forward to it.
Summer is here....even if wet and loaded with mosquitoes. Get out and ride!
Meanwhile, check back. I'll get some pics added to this post.
Quick summary of the spring
Marin, CA: had a great opportunity to go to Adnan's PCG camp. Awesome experience. Stellar riding, scenery and food.
Bedford, VA: what has become an annual training trek. Good for the baseline each season.
Cohutta 100: kicked off what has been a wet race season. Awesome race, fun times, endless climbing. Final twenty miles are so much fun!
Mohican 100: ended up doing the 100k. This was a training race and the way things were going, taking the shorter route seemed to be the best thing. Rare that I listen to reason in the midst of a race.
Brighton XC was in there somewhere. Legs still tired from the prior weekend, lower back normally chills out on the bike. This day....it was two hours before it finally got quiet. Race was still a bunch of fun.
Lumberjack 100: Awesome! Everything came together for this one. It all worked great. The Eriksen 29er hardtail is the bike of choice for this course. The pit crew was perfect, the trail...well there were those bog sections after all the rain. But the rest of it rocked. Even some appropriate CX 'barrier' work in there. Feeding went good until the final 90 minutes of the day. Glad the race was nearing the end there. Good folks on the trail. Mixed it up with a bunch of folk. Had crazy luck at the awards that evening too.
Since then? Taking my 'winter' break. Not riding much, kayaking some and riding easy. Soon it'll be back to "work" training. Maybe a couple XC races to keep me motivated, A couple long CX events after summer and then a late start on regular CX. Looking forward to it.
Summer is here....even if wet and loaded with mosquitoes. Get out and ride!
Meanwhile, check back. I'll get some pics added to this post.
6.22.2008
What makes a great day on the bike?
Being on the bike makes most any day a good day.
What's it take for a great day?
Everything comes together. I get on the bike and nothing aches. In the middle of the ride the legs don't feel the effort, the breathing seems easy. The focus stays completely in the moment with all senses engaged. No wandering off thinking about the to do list. Carving, sweeping, dropping in, rising up, perfect balance. Flow.
What's it take for a great day?
Everything comes together. I get on the bike and nothing aches. In the middle of the ride the legs don't feel the effort, the breathing seems easy. The focus stays completely in the moment with all senses engaged. No wandering off thinking about the to do list. Carving, sweeping, dropping in, rising up, perfect balance. Flow.
5.11.2008
Happy Mudder's Day
Happy mudder's day to all of you.More posting later. I've been crazy busy but have gotten in some fun stuff the past two months.
Thanks to you who've posted comments. I will get back to you.
3.08.2008
Women in Cycling History
Alfonsina Morini Strada was the only woman ever to participate in the Giro d'Italia along with all the guys. The year: 1924. Alfonsina was as high as 41st place in the GC, in a race where the shortest stage was 250 km. Roads were unpaved, no cushy team support vehicles for the riders so they had to do their own repairs and take care of themselves.
A crash caused her to arrive outside the time limit on one stage so she was officially out of the race. But she was bringing so much attention to the race, that the officials allowed her (and some of the guys as well) to continue. She completed the Giro 38 hours back of first. Still, she made it. Many had abandoned during the race.
A more detailed history and other cool cycling history can be found at this blog.
A more recent standout in cycling history, Audrey McElmury, was the first US female to win the World Road Championships (Aug. 1969). A more complete listing of accomplishments of this Cycling Hall of Famer can be read here. There's also a nice "At the Back" article about her in the March 10 ('08) issue of VeloNews.
Nice bit of cycling history (since I'm tired of reading about the UCI/ASO/Pro Team arguments).
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