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September 12, 2010

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Slaying the Dragon

(I just deleted my post – and I’m starting again. Attempts to be positive will now occur….)

First off, today was a bad day on the bike for me. I didn’t ride like I can. I didn’t ride like I have in the past. Nope, I simply under-performed. I had a decent start and then things went south from there. I wasn’t aggressive, I backed off when I should have pushed forward, and then I went backwards. My crazy brain kicked in and I simply shut down. Yes, it was ugly. It was embarrassing.

But it is over. The first cyclo-cross race of the season is over and in the books. Good. Now I can move ahead and look forward to bigger and better things. Better rides. Better races. Races and rides like I know I can put together. Today was a tough day and perhaps the longest 40 minutes of my life. But maybe just maybe this is what I needed.

A literal kick in the head. I remember a few years ago when I was competing in taekwon-do, I was having a pretty good string of results – basically winning all the time. And then I lost. I lost in the first round – didn’t even make it to the finals. My taekwon-do instructor said “you have to lose to appreciate the wins”. This rings true for today.

Tomorrow I’m racing in Kirkland, NY and I vow that it will be better. It will be different – it will not be like today at Nittany Lions in Trexlertown, PA. I owe this to myself and most importantly to Marc. I let him down today. He has sacrificed so much to allow me to focus on my training and racing – and today was not the best way of showing how much I appreciate this sacrifice. Also, I’ve let you down. I’ve let my sponsors down. So tomorrow will be better. I really have no choice.

So there you have it. Not the blog entry I had intended on writing today. But it is what it is.

I’ll close off this post with some excellent racing news: Marc was 6th today! Awesome. He had a great ride – particularly since he has been quite sick all week. I was so excited to see him racing and riding so well. Also congrats to Mo Bruno-Roy for her solid ride today – 2nd place is pretty darn fine for a training race! Thanks to Matt Roy for pitting for me. Also huge thanks to Matt and Mo for the positive and kind words after today’s race. Huge shout out Rob Watt for his win today – just great to read his race report about his successful day.

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September 11, 2010

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Checking In From Trexlertown, PA

Well, we made it. Took our time this morning and finally rolled out of our driveway at around 12:30. Kind of nice to not be up and out the door at the crack of dawn for the “day before drive”. We both agreed that we weren’t hung up on pre-riding today. I think this was an excellent choice since it made for a more relaxing morning and drive down.

I was out on my bike for an opening work-out, battling the angry morning winds by 8 a.m. Yes, I know not really a leisurely hour, but for an early-riser like me, this worked out perfectly. Solid ride this morning. Only lingering stiffness from Thursday’s fall down the stairs (mental note: do not fall down the stairs again!).

A few errands, some bike cleaning, last minute food preparation, hugging of Murphy (our cat) and we were out the door. The drive really was pretty easy. We didn’t hit any traffic and since we packed our lunch we were able to just roll along. Have to say, I really appreciate mini-vans. So much room. So comfortable. And the pick-up on them is pretty darn nice.

We drove straight to the race course and decided to walk it. This was an excellent decision. This allowed Marc to talk me through the course, we could look at the corners and angles, and talk about how to ride the course. Typically we’re out on our bikes and it just doesn’t work well – Marc is riding faster than me, I can’t hear him, etc. So this was a good thing to do. Though I admit that by the end I was really only thinking about food.

Supper and then a quick trip to the grocery store. We elected to check out the Super Wal-Mart… Hmm, eye opening experience…. I was disappointed to not find any gluten-free food items there. Ah well, at least the peanut butter was cheap and I picked up a treat for my dad.

Chilling out at the hotel and we’ll make it to the course tomorrow for around 10:30. As for the race course – well it is pretty darn good. I consider it to be a power course – lots of long straight stretches, some big corners where time can be easily lost, a funky rooty section that can kill tires, a few little uphills that if not ridden correctly can suck you backwards, super fast barriers right on a corner. All in all, a pretty fun course. Looking forward to getting out and racing tomorrow. So far the weather is looking good – the course is dry – really dry. Should be a good fast one.

After Saturday’s race the plan is to hop in the mini-van and drive to Syracuse for the night and then race at Kirkland on Sunday. Marc is a bit under-the-weather, so we’re playing this by ear. Anyway, expect a race report from me sometime later in the day. Feel free to send fast vibes my way at around 2:35….

Stoked to get out and show off the Ottawa Cross sponsors for 2010-2011!

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September 9, 2010

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Great Day

Today has been a most excellent day so far. (Well apart from when I fell down the stairs this morning…) But falling aside, this has just been a really good Thursday.

Kicked things off with a fun cyclo-cross practice session at Mooney’s Bay. I have to say – I really love helping people out and teaching them the skills I’ve learned over the years of racing and training for cyclo-cross. It is such a tremendous feeling to see people push their limits, learn a new skill, and simply smiling as they’re pedaling along. We had a really good session this morning. We worked on turning – including sweeping turns and tripoding and tight turns, then it was time to do some dismounts and mounts. Both Andrew and Sophie are looking good with their dismounts and mounts so it was time to push our boundaries a bit. We set up an uphill dismount that included a tricky downhill left corner into the barrier once up and over the barrier came a quick right turn down the hill. We played around with this, trying different techniques and testing ourselves. Soon enough they were cruising into the barrier, having only used their rear brake and with constant pedaling were keeping their rear wheels from slipping out. Next up was off-camber turning – again more focus on continually pedaling, looking ahead, light brake pressure and learning to modulate speed. To close off the session I set up a 5 by 4 grid on the face of the hill and we practiced uphill turning and downhill turning – I find this is a great drill since it allows you to practice so many key skills at once: looking ahead, constant pedal pressure, turning, learning to let your bike “fall”, and pushing your limits with downhill turning speed. All in all, an excellent session. Amazing what you can cover in 90 minutes. Thanks Andrew and Sophie for coming out – it truly was a great way to start my day. (I really do get a rush from teaching people and seeing them learn.)

To round out the day, it is also new bike day! Yay! Many thanks to Vince at The Cyclery and Stevens Bikes Canada for the new bike. I now have two brand spanking-new Stevens Carbon Team DA bikes in my garage. Pretty darn sweet. I’m stoked to race these bike this weekend. Already from the training I’ve done, I’ve found the bike to be super responsive and it turns really smoothly. Not to mention that is is nice and light – I barely notice it when I pick it up and put it on my shoulder. The paint job is sharp and the extra finishing touches just make the Stevens Carbon Team DA look super fast and smooth.

To close off the day, I’m hooking up with young Karl for some cyclo-cross skills action and some video taping action. Lets hope the rain holds off for a little bit. What a soggy week we’ve had. Amazing September rolls in and all of a sudden the sun, heat, and calm days are gone. Lets hope we get a bit more heat before the month is out!

Pretty excited to race this weekend. I’m not putting any pressure on myself for the races. I just want to go out and leave it all on the course. If I do this, I know a good performance and outcome will follow.

Alright, I best be off. I’m heading to the garage to put pedals on the new bike and to play around a bit. Fun on bikes – doesn’t get much better.

(Check back this weekend for race reports.)

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Motoring Along

This morning I realized that I’m ready. Really ready. I got out for a ride behind the motorbike and the body sensations were good. (Can’t say much for the ridiculous wind…) But nonetheless it was an excellent ride. Nothing quite like the feeling of speed when sitting just off the back of the motorbike with the legs spinning at 115 rpm and the wattage numbers looking sharp. Does so much for the body, mind, and soul. Just what I need a few days out from my first race of the season.

Tomorrow is looking like another most excellent day of cyclo-cross action. I’ve got a cyclo-cross practice session in the morning. Followed by a spin on the ‘cross bike. Then in the evening I’m hooking up with Karl and maybe Marc and Evan for some ‘cross skills work and a little bit of videotaping. A good day indeed.

I find the hardest thing for me these days is to take it easy. I’m feeling so good and I just want to squeeze as much as I can out of every training ride. I’m so tempted to throw in extra work-outs and to extend every ride. I know – this is not the best way to do things. I’m trying really hard not to do “too much”. Yes, it is possible to do to much. I have to remember I’ve got some busy weeks of travel and racing coming up. I guess it is just because I’m feeling so good and I feel as though I’ve progressed so far this summer that I want to see what else I can get out of myself. All in due time I suppose.

Pretty much all the plans have come together now for the cyclo-cross season. I finalized a car lease today – thanks to AutoCar Europe for the outstanding assistance. I managed to lease a Peugeot Tepee at a very reasonable price. This is a big weight off my mind. The Las Vegas trip is all sorted now – thanks to uber-planner and sponsor Skip Williams of KingsBridge for helping make this trip possible.

Actually, this is the perfect time to say thank-you to all my sponsors. The season starts on Saturday and truly without their support, I don’t know what I’d be doing. So without further adieu – thanks to the fine companies and individuals who are making my cyclo-cross racing dreams and goals a real possibility and reality for me:

  • KingsBridge: what can I say about this company of fine people? KingsBridge helps me out with all the “behind the scenes” stuff needed to make a cyclo-cross racing season come together. Owner Skip Williams had never heard of cyclo-cross until he started sponsoring me – and now he’s coming down to Cross Vegas to take in the action! Check out the KingsBridge blog, follow KingsBridge on Twitter, and check out the Facebook page.
  • The Cyclery: each time I walk into The Cyclery I really am overwhelmed. Owner Vince Caceres and his staff really do go that extra mile for me. Whether it is ordering in new chainrings, helping me choose new shoes, answering endless questions about my gear, and helping me out of last minute jams. My Stevens Bikes are built and maintained at The Cyclery – and for this I’m so grateful for – I know that they are well-built and will run perfectly all season. Vince does so much for the Ottawa cycling community that really does go overlooked – it is not often you’ll find a business owner who is willing to do so much for others for so little in return. If you’re looking for a bike, a helmet, shoes, some snazzy Icebreaker clothing, or maybe you just want to look at some cool bikes – be sure to visit The Cyclery.
  • Stevens Bikes: the support that Stevens Bikes gives me really is more than I can have ever imagined. I’m super lucky to have two brand new Stevens Carbon Team DA cyclo-cross bikes to race on this season. I’ve been riding Stevens Bikes since 2008 and I really wouldn’t have it any other way. The bikes are super reliable, fast, they turn well, take a beating, and they look damn good. Can’t ask for much more out of a bike. Thanks so much to Stevens Bikes Canada for the amazing support – I feel pretty fortunate to be riding on such solid cyclo-cross bikes and to have the Stevens Bikes logo on my clothing. Be sure to check out the new line-up of Stevens Bikes and don’t forget to follow Stevens Bikes Canada on Twitter and to visit the Stevens Bikes Canada Facebook page.
  • Champion Systems Canada: thanks to this clothing company, my Ottawa Cross clothing looks darn sharp. Not only does it look good, it fits well and I’m well prepared for the cyclo-cross season. Snow, mud, rain, ice, and the cold won’t be an issue thanks to the warm, waterproof and resilient clothing. I’m literally covered from head to toe with skinsuits, base layers, jerseys, thermal vests, thermal jackets, bib tights and for off the bike, I’ve got a waterproof, windproof, three-in-one coat to keep me toasty. If you need clothing and you want it done right and on-time, do yourself a favor and contact Champions Systems Canada.
  • Clif Bar: mmm, Peanut Butter Crunch, Chocolate Mint, Double Expresso, Caramel Nut Brownie – can’t go wrong with these flavors in your jersey pocket. Clif Bar is one of these companies that really is rock solid. Not only do they make excellent products for bike racers like me, but the company itself is just top-notch. I like the product, I like the people, and I like what Clif Bar does for its community-at-large. Do yourself a favor, slide some Clif Shot Bloks (Tropical Punch is very tasty) and a Chocolate Mint Clif Bar into your jersey the next time you go for a ride. Believe me, you’ll be well-fueled and your taste buds will thank-you. Oh, and to learn more about nutrition and sports, be sure to listen to the ClifCast.
  • Bell Lap Coaching: Steve Weller of Bell Lap Coaching makes it all happen. This is the guy with the plan, the vision, the knowledge, the patience, and the wisdom to make my racing seasons come together. No challenge is to big for Steve – when I told him I wanted to race at the World Cyclo-Cross Championships, he didn’t blink – he just said that “we’d make it happen”. This guy keeps me from doing too much and for pushing me that extra bit when I need it. His advice and knowledge really make the difference between a coach and a trainer. Bell Lap Coaching is going to get you where you want to be.
  • Outdoor Gear Canada: thanks to Outdoor Gear Canada, I’m riding on and using the best equipment out there. Fast and reliable wheels? Thanks to OGC, I’ve got them. A flashy and rock-solid helmet? Yep – got one of these as well. Stiff shoes that can take a beating? Oh yah, I’ve got these. OGC fills in the blanks for me and makes sure that I’ve got all the pieces I need to keep me rolling along quickly, safely, and smoothly. And I’ve got to say, yellow shoes are pretty darn awesome!
  • Oakley: be fast and look good – this is easily done thanks to Oakley. I’ve got some pretty hot glasses to wear this season including my pick of lenses to suit any light and course conditions. I’ve got to say that having worn Oakley glasses, I don’t think I can go back to my dollar store specials. These glasses really are the bomb. Beyond glasses, Oakley can set you up with some solid and durable luggage and snazzy clothing. Oakley – really what else is there to say?

Thanks so much for the support this season. I’m looking forward to another great year with many good things to come. I’ve set the bar high again this year, because really there is no other way to race or live.

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September 7, 2010

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It Is Here

Bike shops are hopping. Local parks are full of people doing “weird” things on their bikes. The low murmur about cyclo-cross has risen to a full on roar. People are excited. Racers, promoters, fans – everyone is ready for it. Well, good news is – it’s here. The racing starts now.

Well, not now but for me anyway this weekend in Trexlertown, Pennsylvania. Marc and I are making the trek down on Friday – the trusty Matrix will be loaded with Stevens Carbon Team DA bikes, all the wheels we own, and lots of sharp looking Ottawa Cross clothing. Yes, I’m excited. Can’t wait to get out and race my bike. Seems like a long time coming. Nothing like getting the first race of the season into the legs. In addition to the racing I’m looking forward to catching up with my cyclo-cross racing friends in person.

For those of you who have been waiting to find out about the local Ottawa Bicycle Club cyclo-cross series – well, the schedule and registration information is now posted. I can’t say enough good things about this local series. This is where I first got my taste of cyclo-cross, way back in 1994. I was out racing on my Specialized Rockhopper with toe clips. There weren’t a lot of us out there but we were a mighty bunch of racers. Many thanks to the tireless commitment of Bob, Ian, and Cheryl to continue to volunteer their time to keep this series going.

I actually can’t believe how quickly this cyclo-cross season is going to pass by. Two weeks from now I’ll be in Las Vegas getting ready for Cross Vegas. Then a little over a week later I’ll be on a plane to Switzerland for the UCI Cyclo-Cross Training Camp. By Oct. 27, I’ll have two World Cups completed and then on Nov. 6 I’m racing at the Canadian National Cyclo-Cross Championships in Toronto. Finally on Nov. 8, I’ll be back on a plane and landing in Belgium where I’ll stay for the winter. Busy times. Fast times. Lucky times. Fortunate times.

If you’re looking for a small focused cyclo-cross practice session, drop me an email. I’m holding a session this Thursday morning and have room for a couple more people. We’ll work on dismount/mounts, shouldering the bike, turning, and really anything you want to practice.

Well, I best close this off. I need to get some rest… Tomorrow morning I’m going to be behind the motorbike trying to keep my legs spinning and my lungs from popping out of my chest. Oh yeah, nothing like motorpacing to fire up the body sensations!