Oh it is that time. Yep, registration is open. The technical guide is available. Oh yah, it’s time to start thinking about Canadian Cyclo-Cross Nationals. This will be a double weekend with the the nationals on Saturday Oct. 11 and the Jim Horner Grand Prix on Oct. 12.
All the information is available here.
Get your bikes ready. Practice your running. Fine-tune your top end. It is ‘cross time!
The cyclo-cross schedule you’ve been waiting for is now posted. Check out the Eastern Ontario Cyclocross Series.
This is an excellent race series run by some very dedicated volunteers. The OBC series is where I was first introduced to cyclo-cross. If you are looking for a welcoming and friendly race atmosphere – this is it. The courses are well laid out and are 100 per cent safe (no worries of crazy descents!). There is something for everyone in the Eastern Ontario Series.
Please go to the registration evenings at The Cyclery. This will make things much easier for everyone involved on race day.
Massive shout out to Bob, Cheryl, and Ian for organizing this series for us again this year. Remember to say thank-you after your race (and help out by picking up a few flags and barriers!).
Here’s to an awesome Ottawa series. My favorite part about this race series is the kids – I love watching the little guys zoom around the course and drag their bikes over the barriers. Definitely inspiring!
Well, the 2008 road racing season is now over for me. On to the 2008-2009 cyclo-cross racing season. If the ‘cross season is as good as the road season was – well I’ll be thrilled. The road season was a good one. I made some big strides with my fitness, my race sense, and the caliber of races. I got to meet a lot of cool people. An excellent year. Am I satisfied? I think so…
I’m the type of person who is never really satisfied. I always want more out of myself. If I’m third then I spend a lot of time trying to figure out how I could have been first. If I’m first then I spend even more time trying to figure out how I could have been first in a more convincing manner. This attitude is good and bad. It is good to always “want more” but this on the flipside, it is important to “be happy” with what I’ve done. Tricky.
In the coming days, I’m planning to post some more pictures to the site. Just need to figure out the best way to do this (I’m new to WordPress).
Lots of time on the ‘cross bike now and even more time on the road bike fine-tuning the fitness. Canadian ‘cross nationals are super early this year – Oct. 11 in Edmonton, Alberta. So I don’t have many chances to race beforehand. This means lots of time spent drilling it on the bike trying to get that ‘cross racing edge.
Here are some videos to get you amped for the season:
2008 World Cyclo-Cross Championships:
2008 World Cup in Hoogerheide, Netherlands:
Overijse (I did this race!):
Just killing time here in Binghamton, N.Y. Marc is racing this afternoon and I’m up tomorrow. So we are holed up in our hotel room trying to stay out of trouble in downtown Binghamton… So what else to do but surf the WWW?
I ride egg beater pedals. Love them. But the cleat/pedal system rips up the bottom of my carbon soled mountain bike shoes. I know it is not really a big deal. But it is annoying. Well Crank Brothers have introduced a smooth product called the shoe shield. Now your shoes will stay nice and scratch free. Yay!
Tires. What kind of tires will you be riding this season? The tire debate is an endless one in some cyclo-cross circles. I know guys who can debate tire choice and tire pressure for hours… I’m a fan of tubulars – primarily because you can run a lower tire pressure with them. Last year I used Challenge Grifo tires. This year I’ll be running Dugasts. What about you – what are you running? How low do you feel comfortable going (I’m talking tire pressure here…)?
Interesting article over at
CycloCross World about the state of ‘cross in North America.
Check out this Q and A with
Sven Nys at Cyclocross Magazine. I once rode with Sven Nys. Okay well I was on the famous Begijnendijk ride and my partner happened to be Sven Nys. When I realized who it was I focused on riding in a straight line and not taking him down! I once ended up with Neils Albert as my partner on this same ride. This was very cool – we chatted for an hour during the ride about racing in Belgium compared to racing in Canada and about cyclo-cross. Very friendly guy.
Just found this very cool calendar on Cyclocross Magazine. Check it out. No excuses now for missing a race!
Okay, time to go. Gotta get some food for us to munch this afternoon and get ourselves over to the race. Have a good one.
I leave you with this question: pre-clip or not before dismounting?
Thanks for the awesome feedback on the site. I really appreciate it. It is great to know that you find the site interesting and useful. Also greatly appreciated are the kind words about the clothing.
Don’t by shy – if you have a question to ask or a comment to post – go for it. The more chatter the better. Also, if you have a topic that you’d like to hear more about or think I’m missing some useful/hot/interesting cyclo-cross web sites/news/equipment/race – just let me know. The more input from you the better – this way I know what people want to read and talk about.
I’m racing this weekend – but on my road bike. Driving down to Binghamton, N.Y. tomorrow to race in the Chris Thater Memorial criterium. I don’t race until Sunday but Marc is racing on Saturday as well as Sunday. Should be a good weekend. Lots of racing action to take in and I’ll be able to hook up with lots of people I don’t get to see very often. I’ll be racing in The Cyclery kit this weekend, so if you see me out there – don’t be shy to stop me and say hello!
Picked up my Stevens Super Prestige from The Cyclery today. It has a hot new fork on it – a nice light carbon fork. Sweet. Thanks Vince – you rock. And a big shout out to Luke for his smiling face! I feel faster already! Can’t believe how fast the ‘cross season arrived this year. Seems to be coming earlier and earlier every season. Or maybe it is just that this year I’ve started preparing for it much earlier.
I registered for the Cycle-Smart Cyclo-Cross camp. A smooth weekend of ‘cross training/skills/drills combined with knowledgeable coaches and a solid group of camp participants. This will be my third season of driving down to Mass. for the camp. Believe me – it is worth the drive. Besides, I can stop in Burlington on the way to shop (I mean stretch my legs…).
Here is an international calendar for you to drool over (come on no time better than this year to head over to Belgium for some ‘cross action):
I’m serious about Belgium. I’m going again. This will be my second season of racing in ‘cross in Belgium. If you have questions about the racing, accommodations, travel, transport – whatever – drop me an email or post in the comments.
Ottawa Cross 