So the one lesson I really learned from the Plzen World Cup is to remember to have fun on my bike. I didn’t do this on Sunday. I didn’t have any fun during the race. I made myself too nervous and stressed out to remember to take joy in simply pedaling and being outside. I neglected to enjoy the fans, the cheering, the clapping, the sun, the simply “being” part of the cyclo-cross community.

Not sure how this happened. Suppose it is a result of my putting pressure on myself and on just getting “worked up” before the race. This attitude definitely affected my day. Did I give it everything – Yes? But could I have done better – Yes? If I was more relaxed – maybe the start would have been better. Maybe I wouldn’t have struggled with the steep climb after the stairs. Maybe I could have let the bike run more on the long descent. Who knows really…

All I know is that for me, cyclo-cross racing has to be fun. If I’m not having fun, I can’t appreciate what it is I’m doing and I can’t do it well. I need to remember that I could be sick in bed (like so many other people with ulcerative colitis). I need to remember that I’ve come along way in a few short years. I need to remember that I’ll continue to improve. But I’ll only improve if I remember to have fun and enjoy this beautiful sport. Yes, I need to take it seriously but I also need to remember that it is a bike and a bike race.

I started riding my bike for fun. I started racing my bike for fun. I need to continue riding and racing my bike for fun. This is where the true success comes from. If at the end of the day, I can say “that was fun. The race was challenging and hard. I’m glad I did it. Can’t wait for the next one” – then I’ll know I’m doing things right.

(Photos uploaded on Facebook)

Sunday was the Plzen World Cup. World Cup number two in the World Cup circuit. This race in Plzen was a new race for me – there wasn’t a women’s World Cup in Plzen last year.

As you know from reading my blog, we arrived in Plzen on Thursday and I’d ridden the course many time before race day. I liked the course a lot – fast, some challenging steep climbs, a fast and twisty descent, subtle elevation changes with tight turns that kept you thinking, barriers, a fly-over, and over course the 23 stairs… All this made for a fast day on the cyclo-cross bike.

Did the usual pre-race routine – got out for a lap with Gabby and Nikoline and then back to the RV to chill out and try to relax. I’ll admit, I was very nervous before this race. I think actually that the nerves set in last night. I could feel myself becoming more and more anxious about the race and this morning I had a bad case of the nerves. When I get very nervous, I cry. Yep, this is what I do. I become overwhelmed with emotion and I end up crying. Silly I know but this is what happens. Thank goodness for cell phones and very supportive and understanding husband – talking to Marc this morning before leaving for the race and then again less than an hour before the race did help a lot. But I still ended up rolling into the staging area with watery eyes….

Many thanks to Luc for brining the trainer and trainer wheel for me. This made my pre-race warm-up so much more simple. There are very good bike paths by the race course but they involve a lot of climbing – not something I wanted to do before the race.

Got called up to the last row of an uphill start with a headwind… Well, I had a typically start. I managed to stay just in contact with the group – frustrating that I can’t accelerate from a stop. (Something Marc is going to help me with this week…) Anyway got through the tight corners and onto the descent – was just off the back of a couple of riders and I felt I was gaining on them. And then I made a mistake. After the stair run-up there is a very steep climb. In warm-up I had been making it up the steep climb by the skin of my teeth… Well, I didn’t make it up – my bike fell to the side. I rolled down the hill, had to grab the course tape, get clipped out and drag the bike up the hill. By now the other two girls were gone and I was simply focused on trying to minimize the damage I had created. Good news is I feel like I generally rode the course well technically. I know this is where I have the most to learn and to improve on but I feel like I rode it better technically than I would have last year.

I remembered to shift before the corners, to ease off on the brake and to trust my tires in the corners, and then to accelerate after the corners. I was pretty good at maintaining speed through the tight twisty little climbs. I caught some air on the bumps before the pits – this was exciting. I made it up the steep climb on the back side 2 out of 3 times. And I learned from my mistake in the first lap and dismounted part way up the steep climb after the stairs and ran up the rest. So these are pluses.

Really my problem lies with acceleration. Accelerating from a dead stop (such as a start). Re-accelerating the bike after dismounting for something like a long run. Accelerating to get up and over steep climbs that I don’t have a long run-in for. I can accelerate decently if I’m moving – still not that great for the power numbers I have. So this is something that when I get it sorted will make a big difference in my riding.

Many many thanks to Pete and Julie Harris for helping us out so much with the RV. They arrived at the race course before us and saved us a spot close to the exit so we could make a speedy get away after the race. Pete was also super helpful in getting the little RV quirks sorted out. Also many thanks to the cheering during the race and the kind and encouraging words after the race.

Big shout out to Nikki Harris for her fine ride today. Also thanks to Nikki for reminding me that I need to approach the races as just another day on the bike. She pointed out that I make myself too nervous before the races and that this could be affecting my performance. Thanks Nikki – see you in Niel in a couple of weeks.

Massive words to Gabby Day for being a great pal these past two races. We hung out quite a bit together – stayed at the same hotels, rode together, etc. Big help to have someone as experienced as Gabby to ride with before the races and just to hang out with before the races. Thanks Gabby for everything – looking forward to catching up with you in Niel in a few weeks.

Also thanks to Greg, Jacob, Nikoline, Nancy, Andy, Rudy, Joyce, Nicole, Luc, Kelly, Christine, the Canadians from Winnipeg, Simon and basically everyone else who cheered me on, encouraged me, took photos, and just generally made this racing experience so worthwhile.

Of course this trip wouldn’t have been possible without my dad. He is now a pro at helping out at cyclo-cross races. He was really thrown into the deep end with his first World Cup in Aigle. He survived that one in fine form – learning the ropes in the pits from Greg. He was top notch at the Plzen race – had the pre-race routine down perfectly – cleaned my bikes, cheered me on in the pits, helped pack up the bikes, and basically just did anything and everything that I needed to do. I could really focus on riding and not worry about the little things that come along with such big races.

And even though the wasn’t here in Europe, Marc was an ever constant help. He seemed to always know just what to say – to keep me fired up, to calm me down, to help me with the races, and to just really be my number one fan. Thanks Marc – couldn’t do this without you. See you on Tuesday.

So there you have it, first two World Cups in the books. I admit, I’m not happy with how I did. I always want to do better. I really would have liked to have finished on the lead lap. It will come. I just need to keep digging, keep learning and stay focused on the goals I’ve set out. I’m further ahead than I was last year, and this is all I can ask for.

Doing the tourist thing in Frankfurt on Monday and then flying home on Tuesday. I’ve got Nationals on Nov. 6 and then I’m racing in Niel, Belgium on Nov. 11. I’m really looking forward to getting to Belgium and getting settled for the winter. Looking forward to hooking up with the gang at Kasterlee for some riding in the woods, to some group riding on Tuesdays and Thursdays, to some long on-road/off-road rides in and around Averbode, and to just being able to race and learn as much as I can.

Spent the morning relaxing in the hotel and then made our way to the race course for one last check over. As usual we arrived before the official training time – this way the course wouldn’t be crowded.

Set up nicely in the parking lot surrounded by lots of friendly faces. Off out on the course and it really was unchanged from the previous few days. A few more ruts since and obvious lines since there was a mountain bike race on the same course this morning. The one change was that the fly-over was finished so I could finally ride it. Typical fly-over – not as steep as the one at the World Championships but a good solid sprint into is still required.

I did a couple of laps – one with Gabby and then I hooked up with Nancy Bober, her husband Andy and Ellen Van Loy for a lap. We chatted and checked out lines. Then it was time for a hot lap. I did turn on the helmet cam to take record this lap but the camera didn’t work properly – so sad to say it – but I don’t have any footage for you. The hot lap went well – I’m able to get up all the steep climbs though I must say after running up 23 very enormous steps the climb is a challenge.

As is typical in cyclo-cross races, the start is critical. But even more so tomorrow since the start is uphill then quickly down and around a corner and then onto the descent. I predict a few tumbles on the descent with people going down it five across – so moving up beforehand will be important. Both Marc and Pete (Nikki Harris’s dad) have told me that they want to see me moving up before the descent… I will do it!

Got in one more cool-down lap and then I set off on the bicycle paths to flush my legs and head out. Quick change in the camper and it was off to the number pick-up. Quick stop off at the grocery store and now we’ve just been hanging out. Fine supper at the hotel restaurant with a great gang of people.

Got my clincher wheels ready to go for the spare bike. Both bikes are working well. Body feels good. Head feels good. I’m looking forward to racing tomorrow. I really like the circuit – it is challenging and there is nothing “ridiculous” in it. So all in all, I’m feeling pretty good. I’m hoping it stays dry – primarily because it makes the clean-up post race so much easier….

So, not sure when my next blog post will be. Don’t know if we’ll have Internet access tomorrow night. But I’m sure we’ll have it Monday night in Frankfurt. Flying home on Tuesday and then soon enough back on the plane to fly to Brussels. Time is whipping by (this is a good thing).

Good luck tomorrow if you’re racing. I heard there is a big sand pit in the Perth OBC course…. Looking forward to hearing all about it. Alright, have a good one. Cheer for me tomorrow – 1 p.m. I set off.

A most excellent morning was spent on the ‘cross bike today. On the schedule was a one hour recovery ride. I chose to return to the race course to ride a couple of easy laps and practice some of the key sections.

After a bit of sleep-in (8:00) and a tasty breakfast at the hotel, we hopped in the RV and made a stop off at the massive shopping plaza by our hotel. The largest Tesco I’ve ever seen along with a bunch of shops and restaurants. Had a bit of a wander around and got some Czech Kroners. By this time the frost had burned off and the sun was out. Time to ride!

Just as I was getting my bike sorted out, my friends Nikoline and Jacob rolled up. We had a good chat and then Nikoline and I set off for a couple of laps. It was good to ride with someone else and talk about the course, race lines and just chat. (Nikoline and Jacob lived with myself and Marc last winter in Blauberg, so we know one another well.) Got in a couple of laps and then Nikoline set off for a road ride. I stayed at the course and practiced the key sections – working on the steep climb, the fast downhill and the climb after the stairs. I’m feeling fairly comfortable with all three. Tomorrow I’ll try the descent without braking… Turns out there are 23 steps in the stair run-up! Yes, it is long and the steps are enormous.

I got in some road riding as well, just to shake out the legs and clear my brain a bit. Discovered some excellent bicycle paths by the course and was treated to some wonderful view of the city. Quick lunch in the RV and it was back to the hotel for a shower.

We spent the afternoon being tourists in Plzen. We explored the old town square taking numerous photos and poking in some shops. I was careful to not do too much walking. This meant we spent some time sitting in two very nice cafes. The second one was excellent – Orient Cafe (best hot chocolate of my life!). Then we hooked up with Nikoline and Jacob for supper (Happy Birthday Jacob!).

Tomorrow is the “real” pre-ride day. The fly-over (bridge) was not finished today so I’ll get to give this a whirl on Saturday and get in a few more laps of the course. Then it is the usual number pick-up, parking pass pick-up and back to the hotel to chill out and relax. Looking forward to the race on Sunday. My dad tells me the Sunday forecast calls for rain… But I won’t think about this until Sunday morning…

So all in all, I’m feeling good. I’m still a bit stressed about getting the UCI points I need on Sunday. But as my dad pointed out, if I don’t get them on Sunday it only means the next few races are that much more important and it doesn’t mean that I won’t qualify for the World Champs. Really, the best possible outcome is to get the points I need on Sunday, but if I don’t – it is not the end of the world. Rather just changes the emphasis of the next few races.

I really like the course. The grass is super bumpy. The descent is fun. The stairs are wicked (but stairs always are). There are some challenging twists and turns. Really a lot of variety. The trick will be to continue to accelerate and and not get bogged down in a gear (I think). I’ve been watching the video from last year’s race and really paying attention to where and how the top riders attack the course.

Hard to believe that in two days I’ll have raced two World Cups and that in two weeks I’ll be getting ready for the Canadian National Cyclo-Cross Championships and then a mere five days after this race I’ll be racing in Niel, Belgium on Nov. 11. Guess time really does fly!