Crossin Colorado

After 19 hours of driving the toaster across four states, through rain, snow and wind storms - one of which blew three semi trucks over, we finally arrived in the land where the antelope roam - Colorado. It's amazing here, despite it feeling like I'm sucking oxygen out of a coffee straw... We are staying with a wonderful family on a farm just outside old town ft Collins and its great. I've met some of the nicest people bike racing. It's pretty amazing and wonderful to have smiling faces and warm welcomes to wake up to - especially from little kids dressed up in witch hats.

The field was stacked today - the best of the best were out. Conditions were cold, rainy, and muddy - I loved it. The course was technical and interesting and really challenged me. I ended up 24/44 and managed to stay on the lead lap. I felt good about it and think I can do better. I loved the cheers from the die hard fans on the sidelines. They really keep me honest - no slacking allowed! Not when your being heckled, and encouraged to go for the dollar bill grab as your taking a turn on mud that's slicker than snot!

I also had a great experience at a local bike shop called Full Cycle. Not only did Mike, a guy that works there, hook me up with some of his embrocation cream for the cold (couldn't find that stuff anywhere!!!), they let me use there stand and tools to replace my front derail cable since it was about to snap off!

All in all great day.

What Are You Doing With Your Time?

Despite what some of my roadie friends may say, I personally find cross to be one of the most challenging disciplines of cycling.  In addition to precision and technical accuracy, cross demands focus when your body is screaming and at it's limit, legs begging you to stop.  You have to have a mantra.  Something to focus on other than the pain cave. If cross was a piece of cake, I think it's recipe would be the following:

Ingredients:
1 cup of sweat and tears - combination is up to you
2 cups mad handling skills
1/2 cups determination
1 cup of dedication
2 cups of passion
One hell of a big heart
1 cup grit
One can of Monster or Red Bull Energy
Unlimited Mental toughness - add to taste, really can't get enough of it.  Poor it on.
1-2 Tablespoons embrocation cream
1Teaspoon Anti friction cream, preferably Button Hole
If in NorCal - 3-5 Tablespoons of sunscreen
 A good cow bell for spice

Mix all that stuff together and try to keep the rubber side down.  Bake in the oven for 40-50 min until you feel like puking, passing out, or just plain dead.  While it's baking, it may seem horrible difficult, painful, smelly, not worth it, and tough.  But, when you're done you won't regret it.  Sit on the sidelines, heckle and enjoy your darn beer and piece of cross cake.  You earned it.

So, that's what i'll be up to and blogging about till January.  CROSS! 

It's motivating...really.

Putting bikes together for a new cross season.

Giving away a lot of eggs.

Little trip to Tahoe.

Amazing Tahoe...

Team camp at the Rambuski's....so rad.

Paying attention to detail.

Fun with friends.

Drinking coffee.

Oh yeah, had my first crash.  Popped that cherry.

Seeing some cool sights.

Making great friends.

Got a new pair of kicks!

Drinking more coffee.

Making more new friends.  Watch the wire...

This was just funny.

Fun cross riding.

WTF?!  Nathan is funny

More fun cross riding.

Reading a great book.  Thanks Coach P.

So true it's scary.

Ran a womens clinic.  5 women now know how to change their own tire.  Booyeah.

Rode with the Santa Cruz Jr. Composite team.  Great kids, super fun!

Got some pumpkins.

It's the bench.  My favorite ride.

Been using a lot of this lately...need i say more?

Watched Devon and  Aspens dog.  Cute little guy he is..

Oh, and cross practice on Wed morning.  Heaven:  Think I found you.

What have you been up to?

CD

Strawberry Crown and Safeway Fast and Furious

Last night was quite possibly the greatest night of my season.  Emily Collins got the big win for Vanderkitten and put the team on the top step of the podium.  It was incredible. 

We had two races this weekend - Strawberry Crown, in Watsonville - which was just a pro men and women races, held in downtown Watsonville.  The venue, for the first year was really good.  The town showed up, had a festival on Main street, and there was great energy.  I was feeling better than the weekend in Reno, but still having some back issues.  I went for the Rock Tape, and swear that stuff helps. It was a very fast race, with four PB and Co girls including Dillon, Rivera, Hannan, and Starns, Liza from Primal, and the Swiss champ - Pascal.  There was a break straight away, and Jazzy from VK was in it! We all worked to bring the bridge attempts back and control the group, while Jazzy threw down like mad off the front.  Her efforts paid off, and the break stayed away putting her in third, on the podium!


                                          

Then Jennx threw down with fourish to go, bridging up to Starns.  And it stuck! She managed the 5th spot on the podium, and we all walked away in the money.  It was a fun race, and we came home with lots of strawberries!

Day two was in Pleasanton.  The race wasn't until 7 pm, which was a little weird.  I was house sitting/dog and cat watching for Devon and Aspen on Saturday night, and decided to wake up pretty early and meet Jennx for coffee at Coffee Cat - I swear they put crack in their coffee.  It got me all fired up, and I did some serious cleaning, dog washing, and general life catching up activities until it was time to pack up the car at 3:30 to head to the race.



I must say, getting text messages and phone calls wishing me and the team good luck, was pretty great and turned my afternoon lul mood around a bit.  Once Jennx and I got to the race, I was fired up.  The crowd was out, music was playing, and energy was flowing.  Chris the race director was on the ball, with legit pro parking, and accommodations that made it a lot less stressful for us.

One thing ive noticed this year is how important a good warm up is.  I feel like if I bag on the warm up, i really suffer during the race.  As  much as I dislike riding the trainer, it's one of the best ways for me to get a proper warm up.  I guess i'm a control freak, but it's noticeable and i'm sticking to it.

We got to the line, went through call ups, and the race started living up to the name - Pleaston Fast and Furious! Out the gate there were attacks, stringing it out, and keeping the pace hot.

We all did a good job initiating, and responding and worked well as a team.  That was fun.  Another thing we did well was communicate during the race.  It really helps when someone says they need me to get up there, or if I ride by someone who just threw down and say good job, I think it helps keep them motivated.  It keeps us together, when we're not side by side. 

I'd say my defining moment in the race was with four laps to go.  The tension was high, and Starns was in a really threatening break.  Starla rode by me and said - we need to move up to support Emily!  I snapped out of my suffer mode, and made my way to the front, got on the front, and lead the peleton, closing the gap on the back side of the course which was a long, long straight away with a head wind.  After that, i was pretty toast.  But, I helped out and closed a gap for the team, and if that helped contribute to the W - heck yeah!

The remaining laps were fast fast fast.  I tried to spin the effort out of my legs with three and two to go, and lost some position as I floated back.  I watched Starla shine on the front as she kept the pace hot for Emily, and as I heard the announcer call out Emily's name - I smiled.  She won!  She came through for us, and threw down against one of the best teams in the country.  I'm still smiling from last night.  That was pretty unforgettable.

We celebrated, drank from the trophy cup and enjoyed the feeling of victory for a while while the men buzzed and hummed around the course.  Then made our way back to the car, said our good byes and headed home.  Jennx and I hit up a burrito place on the way home, and had to eat it in the bar next door because the restaurant was closing.  We find ourselves in the oddest places... I swear!  They were doing Karaoke, and we were dancing and eating and singing along.  We finished it off with frozen yogurt, and then called it a night.  One thing Jenn said, that i'll have to remind my self of i'm sure, is - you have to take the good with the bad.  You can't be on all the time, and sometimes you have good races and sometimes you have crappy races.  It's all a part of the process, and there's always another race and opportunity to shine.

Life in the Fast Lane...

"Life in the fast lane
Surely make you lose your mind
Life in the fast lane, everything all the time
Life in the fast lane, uh huh" 

 

Yeah, it's been forever since I updated my blog, but life has been pretty busy in a good way - lots of training, working, laundry, eating, and sleeping! It's been pretty great all the way around.  I found this sign up Glenwood Canyon Rd. and had to stop and take a picture, because it kind of say's it all.  

So, i'm pretty stoked on the month of August, and have some fun stuff planned.  I'll be riding with the Vanderkitten-Focus team in a crit called Tour de Nez this Sunday, which im fired up about and can't wait!  We leave on Saturday, and are staying an extra day to play on mountain bikes at Northstar - fun!  The next race will be the following weekend at Dunnigan hills, then University RR, followed by the Rambuski Law team camp, and then GATEWAY CUP in ST. Louis!! Can't wait!  

Then, the fun really begins with 'cross.  I'm really stoked on the team that i'm on this year, and can't wait to get to know everyone better at the team camp.  Here are some funny and cool pictures I've taken lately.  

A little about me.

Cole after he went face to face with a skunk.  I had to come home and Simple Green him on my lunch break.  Poor little guy.

My totally radical compression socks, yeah I traded one with AMJ.  I get funny looks, but I don't really care!

A place I visit a couple times a week after an evening ride, beautiful view but mind the sign, the cliff is steep!!

I recently did an EPIC cyclocross ride with Starla - and had to post this goofy picture of her.  Love it!

A good luck charm.

The Big W

This week has been a tired week for me.  I got home last Monday night from one of the most amazing weeks of racing with Vanderkitten in Wisconsin, and as soon as I stopped peddling for a day or so, my body said "oh yeah, remember the 11 races you did in a row? Take that Court!" Even my little easy hour rides had me feeling like lead.  So, I called the Dr.  He's not the kind of doctor you'd find in a hospital or ER, but man he'll help you stay out of those places for sure! His name is Alan Whitsett, and he's the body doc. So he squeezed me in for an early morning massage before work to flush all the crap out of my legs.  Immediately after they felt like they had more life in them, and I was a little more hopeful about Saturday.

I was going back and forth on racing Saturday given how craptastic I felt the whole week.  I also went to the gym and did core for 30 min, thinking that would be a nice idea - NO, I felt like I got hit by a train afterward.  I've decided I need to do the core thing a little more because 1. I shouldn't feel sore after a light 30 min of exercising that area of my body, 2. I'll look better in my pictures, and 3. I'll look better when people take pictures of me. ha! 

So after a pit stop at a gas station where I picked up two powerbars, a 4 pack of sugar free Red Bull and a pack of gum, I went to the race - If my coach is reading this, I'm sorry I didn't do the 20 min test you had planned - I just can't get enough of this racing thing... =)

It was a CCCX race put on by  Keith Defibrie and Rod, who have done nothing but great things for the local road, mountain and 'cross community in the Santa Cruz and Monterey area.  They are both kind of a big deal, and I'm stoked someone has taken race organization by the reins around here.

The circuit is pretty nice - good mix of terrain and of course - WIND - Bah! There was a pretty good turn out, which was nice to see.  Total i'd say there were 40 girls...only ten in the 1/2/3 group, which I think makes it a little harder..no where to hide! And, it's up to you and the 9 others to make it interesting which means a lot of work.  I was up for the challenge, and had a lot of fun covering attacks.  We formed a little break of 4 and spent a couple laps jockeying for position, making it hard through the start finish and then sitting up.  I was wondering if the girl attacking just wanted us to look fast as we blazed by the crowds, so I asked her that.  I don't think she liked me very much after that.  I thought it was a valid question because every time we passed through there it was game on, and I got excited! But then she'd sit up, and ruin all the fun when no one was there...that's racing for ya!

So, It was going to come down to the sprint.  I felt like I did a good job keeping my nose out of the wind this race, and wasn't going to let this one slip out of my hands.  We came around the last set of turns and I gassed it and as we passed the crowds they all started to cheer which made me go faster. And, this time I crossed that finish line first. What a good feeling.

It was a fun time out there, with great people and old friends.  Looking forward to the 4th of July crit on Monday!

Fon du Loc and Sheboygan

Cool idea this coffee shop had.

First of all, I can't stop saying Sheboygan - it's such a cool word! Sheboygan, Sheboygan, SheboyGAN.
It's hard to believe there are only two days left on the Tour.  I'll admit - part of me is a little sad.  The routine has been rad - sleep till 9, coffee and breakfast until 10, pack make lunch, on the road by 11:30 and show time at 3.  I'm lovin' it. 

VK Fan in Fon du Loc

The racing has been epic.  I feel like everyday is an opportunity to learn, and throw it all on the table.  The towns, communities, and fans have been encouraging and make even the tired day's fun.  In Sheboygan, my leg's somehow found my body again and we were all game on.  It was great to have Emily in the race, which rounded our team to an even four.  She brought some energy to the group, keeping the pace  high. We lucked out with the weather too!  It had rained all day, except for our hour race.  Someone's lookin' out!

Pre Race Routine

Yesterday's race was in town of Fon du Loc.  The name is French for bottom of the lake, because it's located at the bottom of lake Winnabego.  There was a great crowd, lots of kids who would scream as the Peleton rushed by.  It was awesome!  We found a great little coffee shop downtown, and partook in a little pre-race ritual that I had to document. 

Beautiful night in Wisconsin

The course was short, only .6 miles which made for a lot of fast laps! My legs were feeling ok, but not as good as they were in Sheboygan.  I still managed to hold good position, and found myself around 4th or 5th wheel with two to go.  Crits are crazy, and I'm realizing that in order to have good position on the last lap, rounding the last corner - you can't hesitate for a moment! You have to go, and only think about one thing - moving up.  It's really intense, and takes a lot of courage, timing and bit of luck - but if you can rail it, and stick your moves - you'll be there at the end.
Today we travel to the biggest city in Wisconsin, Milwaukee.

For reading

Ripon TT

Compression socks Ninja style

Coffee is beautiful.  I'm pretty sure it's my favorite food.  It's also a great friend - it has your back when you're feeling down, is always right around the corner when you need it, never really changes unless you want it to, and can be taken in small doses or large quantities depending on your mood.


That said, we were all in need of some Starbucks lovin' yesterday morning, you could see everyone come back to life after a few sips.  The TT was the earliest day we had so far, and coincidentally the farthest away - which meant an early wake up call at  6:30 am.  TTing is really an art, and I'm pretty fascinated by how much there is to know and learn about it.  How to gauge your effort so you don't blow, the course, the warm up, the position, the equipment etc...  There's a lot going on!  But when the 3,2,1 buzzer goes off nothing else matters but the rhythm of your pedal stroke and beating of your heart - and the one that has the smoothest, fastest, and biggest usually takes the top step of the podium.

Beautiful Dairyland

Mine went ok.. I was surprised that I didn't feel like complete crap the entire way, which made me hopeful for the last four days of racing we have here in Wisconsin.  Ended up 29th overall on the day with a time of 40:12 just a handful of seconds away from a position that would have put me top 20 in the points. That's the crazy thing - we're talking SECONDS.  That's the amazing part about TT - the only thing that sands between you and the podium is yourself.  It's a brutally honest cycling discipline, and I really admire those who master the art of it.