Well, I finally posted my racing schedule for 2009 – 2010. You will notice that there is a bit of a gap between the World Cup on Nov. 28 and the next World Cup on Dec. 18 – this gap will be filled in with some smaller local races as well any other weekends where I’m not scheduled to race double days. I just haven’t taken the time to go through all the Belgian and Dutch race calendars to sort this part out. This race scheduling is easy to do once I’m in Belgium anyway, since the drives are so short. So take a look at the race calendar and if you’re going to be at any of the same races, please do stop me and say hello.

Got out for a great ride on Friday with Marc. We hit up my favorite training grounds for some fun single track riding. Gotta love these trails – sand, mud, roots, pine needles, tight twist and turns. I also had my first crash of the season! Yep, silly me caught my crank on a tree and went down immediately. Got some cool bruising and blood out of it. Nothing major – just enough to tell a good story. And you know how bike racers are – always love a good story.

This weekend I got in some excellent training on my road bike. Some crazy tempo intervals yesterday and a smooth three hour road ride with Skip of Kingsbridge. We had a great ride – chatting about this that and the other thing. Time flew by and I think we both got a good had ride in. I for one had to follow-up the ride with a nap. Skip has a nifty Garmin device that has a GPS built into it – very cool. Nothing like gadgets for the bike.

Looking forward to another good week of training. Each day I’m starting to feel a bit better and I really notice this in my recovery and my riding. Things are looking on track for the start of the ‘cross season. Can’t believe how soon it will be here. I’m looking forward to it. Racing. Travel. Friends. New places. Doesn’t get much better. I find the weekends away are like mini-vacations. We visit a new place, check out a bit of the surrounding action (typically the wonders of Whole Foods Market), race our bikes, cheer on our friends, relax and then come home. A pretty good way to spend the fall and winter.

Well, I’m out of here. Just getting ready to head out for some supper. Hope you had a good weekend and I’m looking forward to catching up in person. You can always email me or ping me on Twitter (vickitopcrosser) if you’re going to be at the same race as me – I love meeting people through this little site.

Happy pedaling.

Wow, is the WWW ever hotting up with cyclo-cross talk. Ever web site I visit seems to be consumed with cyclo-cross. I don’t remember seeing such enthusiasm so early and so fervently before. I’ve got to say – I love it. The more people the better. This sport is growing and is getting better every year. It really starts at the grassroots – little kids, juniors and people just out having fun on their bikes. Sometimes those of us traveling all over the place racing and chasing points forget where it started for us. So really if you do one thing this season, try to volunteer at your local ‘cross clinic, host a ‘cross clinic or go out to your local race and cheer on the folks who are out there at the crack of dawn racing. Remember without these hardcore racers doing it for the passion, we really wouldn’t be so fortunate to be racing.

Okay, that is the end of my soapbox. Sorry, just had to get that out. Not sure where it came from. Maybe because I’m kind of getting tired of seeing bike racers moaning about not having sponsorship and having to “scrape” by. This drives me crazy. Really, remember that we “choose” to race our bikes. No one is making us do this. For the most part, we as North Americans have a lot of other options in life. Bike racing is a middle/upper-class sport here in N.A. – so there are options. Like working. Like working part-time and racing full-time. Lots of people do it. There is no “owed” or “entitlement” out there in the world of bike racing. We are not finding a cure for cancer here – we are pedaling our bikes.

Yikes, another rant. Sorry not my intention. But I guess that was building up in me for a while.

So in other news… I went for a run today. Yep, a run. I kind of thought, “ah 15 minutes of running – no problem”. Well, unfortunately that message did not make it to my quads. Yep, they are tight. I’ve stretched. I’ve hydrated. I’ve rolled out. I think I might need to sleep in the almighty Skins tonight. But this running thing will get easier – right? I have to remind myself that back in the day, I was a runner. Heck, I even ran a marathon. Next week my goal is 20 minutes…

Looking forward to ride on my ‘cross bike tomorrow. Planning to hit up my fave training grounds after work for some thrills and spills. Feels like forever since I’ve been out on my ‘cross bike. Fatigue has been the problem. But I think I’ve got that licked now and I’m starting to feel better.

The racing calendar is coming together. Still have a few gaps to fill in and the okay from the master planner before I post it here. But pretty much I’ll be all over New England this fall and then heading over to Belgium in mid-November. Pretty darn good. Pretty darn lucky.

Speaking of lucky, feel free to check out my sponsors and send them some action. Without these fine companies and people, well I don’t know where I’d be. So huge thanks to: Kingsbridge, The Cyclery, Bell Lap Coaching, OGC, and Clif Bar.

Busy times here in the land of Ottawa Cross. Putting the finishing touches on planning for the upcoming cyclo-cross season. Took the new Stevens Super-Prestige bikes into The Cyclery to get Fearless Leader to put together and make super fast. I’ve got some new fly TRP brakes to go on them not to mention a couple of sweet groupos. Yep, really counting my lucky stars and feeling the overwhelming support of Vince. This is the third season that Vince has come forward to help me out and help fuel my quest for cyclo-cross racing dreams. Like I said, lucky stars.

Worked on pulling together my cyclo-cross race schedule on the weekend. I’ve got to run it by the master planner (aka Marc the Shark) and then I’ll post it up here for you to browse. Lets just say, the racing action kicks off on Sept. 19 – at Nittany Lions in Pennsylvania. Cool – never been to Pennsylvania. I know it is going to be a good time. The new racing schedule is looking pretty jam-packed – perfect. I feel the need to race my bike.

The new Ottawa Cross kit is going to be sharp again this season. My order is in at Champion and the goods will be arriving any day now. New this year are shorts, long sleeve jersey and some super duper full-length bib tights. Oh yeah, not only will be I fast but I’ll look good doing it. (Sorry a little ego action there – a girl has got to have some fun…)

Training is going well. I’ve been forced to cut back a bit while I get on top of this ulcerative colitis gig. But I’m getting there. Feeling better everyday. Spirits are coming around. Body is feeling better. I’ve got to say that this experience is really reinforcing a few wise words shared by Tim Harris “The hardest thing a bike racer can do is not ride his bike”. True. So very true. I had to face facts and admit to myself that I needed to rest, to sleep, to take some serious recovery days and just leave the bike alone. So hard. But, I did it. I suppose the faith in my training so far and knowing that I have been doing all I can, made it a bit easier. But wow, is it ever hard to not ride, especially when the season is just around the corner. Really, I guess this is why it is so important to rest right now…

I’m stoked for the season. Looking forward to seeing my “cyclo-cross pals” again, traveling to new and familiar races, amped to go back to Belgium. Just generally feeling happy about cyclo-cross. The support and I’ve received from you guys and my sponsor is simply overwhelming. Just know that every time I line up, I’ll be doing it with you in mind. Everywhere I look, I see inspiration and commitment. People pushing themselves to new levels and putting the words “I can’t” on the shelf. The super smooth guys at Kingsbridge are going for it and are jumping on their bikes doing so in the name of cancer research. These guys have such a contagious energy for all things “bike and life” that I agreed to do the 24 Hours of Solstice with them next year. Yes, I know – it is a mountain bike race, a 24 hour mountain bike race – this means riding my bike in the dark… Like I said, contagious energy can be overwhelming and inspiring.

Thanks for stopping by and checking in. Really looking forward to catching up in person at the races. And if we haven’t met – please stop by and say hello. 2009 is looking pretty darn special. Happy pedaling.

That’s right – go shopping. The recession is over and it is time to spend some cash. So get yourself down to The Cyclery for the annual year end blow-out sale. Lots of hot deals on bikes, clothes, helmets, sunglasses, nutrition, etc.

Ah, just because I’m a keener, I’ve posted the sale details for you:

Friday July 31st and Saturday August 1st

We don’t want to count it so we’re selling it off!!

* 30% off all 2009 Rocky Mountain hardtails
* 25% off all remaining 2008 models, including road bikes!
* 20% off all current model bikes, including framesets
* 25% off all instock wheelsets
* 40% off all clothing (excluding Assos)
* 30% off all instock cycling shoes
* 40% off all instock Rudy Project glasses and accessories
* 25% off all Giro glasses
* 25% off all helmets
* 25% off all instock nutrition
* 30% off all Ritchey components: saddles, stems, bars, carbon seatposts
Including the new “wet white” bars and stems!!
* 40% off all carbon handlebars (including Ritchey)
* 40% off all remaining carbon forks in stock
* 25% off all saddles
* 35% off Fizik team edition saddles!!
* Tacx Flow trainers $399.99 Blow out Price!!
* Tacx Satori Protour edition trainers $299.99 Blow out Price!!
* NO GST or PST on regularly priced merchandise!!

PREORDER SPECIALS: (non-refundable deposits required)

* Special pricing on powertap wheels and wireless hub units starting at $1199.99
* 5% off any 2010 Stevens cross bike or frameset (as supplies last)

Terms and Conditions:

* No holds or layaways
* All sales are final: no returns or exchanges
* Deposits are required for all preorder specials

So what are you waiting for? Get to the store and scope it out. Then go back and spend your money. You’ve been so good all summer, it is time to reward yourself with some new gear. Happy shopping!

What a great day. Had a really really great ride today. It was supposed to be 90 minutes of recovery but I was so happy to be outside riding my bike and enjoying the strengths of my body that I kind of ignored the SRM and rode for 2:15 instead. I was having one of those rides where I felt like I could ride forever and not feel the effort. My body was treating me right and I was soaking it up. Why this revelry with a simple ride and joy with my legs ticking over smoothly?

Well, yesterday I got some news about my health. Turns out I have ulcerative colitis. This is an inflammatory bowel disease that affects the large intestine or colon. I only found out yesterday so I’m not sure how severe my condition is. At first blush I was a bit upset to learn this news. But after having some time to digest (bad pun) this news and do a bit of reading, really this is not so bad.

Ulcerative colitis can be treated with medication. With the appropriate medicine, I can probably remain pretty much symptom free but will have the occassional flare up. As far as I see it, my life really won’t change that much. I’ll have to take medicine daily but other than that, life will roll along as it is. Oh, with one added extra bonus – I’ll feel much better than I have in a long time.

Yes, a long time. The “bad gut” that I simply thought I had was really more than a bad gut… I’ve been in a flare-up for the past five weeks or so. This is what sent me to the doctor’s office a couple of weeks ago. Initially my doctor suspected hemmerhoids – normal conclusion since I don’t look sick and I spend a lot of time sitting down on my bike seat. I was told that if I wasn’t feeling better in two weeks, to make another appointment. Well, the last two weeks have been pretty rough. I’ve been suffering from pretty much constant stomach cramps, fatigue, weight loss, and bloody diarrhea (sorry for the gory details). I saw my doctor on Monday – he was immediately concerned and wondered why I waited so long to come back in… Anyway, I was able to get in for a colonscopy on Tuesday morning – this is when the discovery of the ulcerative colitis was made.

I know this is not the best medium to let you know about this. And to be honest, I was hesitant to write about this. But I’ve always been honest about how things are going on this site and considering this is a pretty big deal for me, I kind of need to write about it. But, one of the main reasons I’m telling you about this is: I want this to be a signal or reminder to you to not ignore symptoms/signs that something may not be quite right with your body. As a society we are pretty squeamish about talking about digestion and “toilet” issues. But this not talking about things doesn’t get you very far when your health is at issue. I’m not trying to turn anyone into a hypochondriac, but there is a time “to suck things up” and a time to pay attention and deal with things.

I feel very lucky today. Hence the super happy feelings about being able to ride my bike. I’m excited to get on the medication, to meet with my new doctor and really learn how to control this condition. I’m stoked to discover what it will feel like to be healthy and symptom free. I’m looking forward to having a big piece of cake again (foods with refined sugar are not good for me right now). I’m looking forward to munching my daily carrots and celery again (too much fiber is not good during a flare up). I’m looking forward to having some spicy food and eating more than fruit smoothies for supper. I’m looking forward to feeling good again.

Don’t worry. This news is actually a relief. A relief to know that there is a reason for the current situation and that this won’t be my “way of life”. As Marc said “This is your reality and we’ll learn how to handle it”. Everyone has their own “reality”. Will this ulcerative colitis change my plans for the cyclo-cross season? Nope. In fact it strengthens my desire.

This condition really makes me appreciate my health and my healthy lifestyle. I firmly believe that I’ve been able to get through this flare-up thanks to my fitness and good diet. As an athlete, I don’t want to be sick. But as a normal person who is sick, I’m very thankful that I’m an athlete. The lessons learned out training and racing will help me get through the rough patches that I’m sure will come up and will help me appreciate even more the good days.

I’m pretty confident that my ride tomorrow will be even better. See you out on the bike!

Looking forward to tomorrow.