Yes, it is that time of the year. The time of the year when you’re getting your cyclo-cross bikes ready and planning your race season. A fantastic time of the year.

Maybe you’re getting out for some rides on some single track, setting up a barrier and some flags in your local park and doing drills, adding in some running to your training program, or working on nailing that uphill dismount. All good things to be doing right now.

I always found that at this time of the year it helps to get out for even just 20 minutes on the cyclo-cross bike. Even if all you do is practice clipping in and out of your pedals so you can “nail” your pedals on every remount – this will go a long way on race day. Other things you can do include:

– practicing your off-camber riding skills – get comfortable with the bike lean, maintaining constant pedal pressure, and looking forward as you pedal
– dismounts and remounts – practice them any way you can – on corners, uphills, slow, fast, in sand, on a hill, on a slight downhill – the more you’re comfortable with this skill, the easier your racing will be
– cornering – cyclo-cross is not raced in a straight line, get comfortable with how much speed you can take into different corners – think loose terrain, grass, uphill, downhill, blind – get creative
– tire pressure – this is huge – play around with your tire pressure – get used to what your tires do at 15 PSI (yes 15), 18, 22, 25, etc (please if you’re running tubulars do not pump them up so they are rock solid). I typically will race with between 17 – 25 PSI…
– looking ahead – it is easy when out riding a course or on some singletrack to end up looking only one or two feet in front of the front wheel – look up, anticipate – this will help you stay off your brakes and you’ll be impressed with how your brain reacts for you

These are just some of the things you can do with a 20 minute block of time. These might sound trivial or even obvious but by doing small drills like this consistently, you’ll soon build up a really solid base of skills that will come second-nature to you on race day.

Of course number one is to have fun out there.

As always, if you have any questions about racing, training, skills, or about cyclo-cross in general – don’t be shy. Leave a comment. Drop me an email vickith@yahoo.com. Contact me on Twitter (@vickitopcrosser). Or grab me on Facebook.

Just a quick note to let you know the Eastern Ontario Cyclo-Cross schedule is now posted:

Please note that there are two registration nights – September 14 and 15 at The Cyclery.

The schedule looks really good with some interesting and challenging race venues. This is the perfect series for all levels of racers from new-to-racing, kiddos, hardened elites, weekend warriors, and those looking to extend their fall cycling. Definitely some of the most fun you’ll have is at this series.

I first raced in this series in 1994 on my trusty Specialized Rockhopper at Conroy Pit. I was hooked instantly!

Looking forward to getting out this year to cheer all of you on and of course if you have any questions about ‘cross – shoot them to me… I love all things about cyclo-cross so I’m always eager to talk, share, help, etc.

Big thanks to Ian, Bob, Cheryl and the countless volunteers for putting together another great season of local cyclo-cross racing for us.

Hey – did you miss me? I sure missed you. Wow, I had no idea when I wrote my last blog post on August 9 that I wouldn’t be able to write again until today. Long story short – I went in for the scheduled colonoscopy and was finally discharged from the hospital on August 20. What initially was supposed to be a two or three day stay kept on getting extended.

Such is the complication of treating this terrible disease. Compound the fact that I’m apparently more healthy than the average individual, it became a challenge for anyone to figure out what to do with me. I had some rough times in that place – but the nurses were fantastic in helping me be as comfortable as I could be.

For me going forward, well I’m on a new drug – Prednisone and we’ll see if this works. Also stocking up on potassium because apparently this is very low for me. I’m sticking to a low residue diet. Getting rest but also slowly asking my body to move a bit. It will be a while before I can get on a bike again. I plan to be back at work next week. So now it is just the path of trying to get out of this ulcerative colitis flare and into a remission.

I’ve got lots of thoughts swirling around in my brain right now and soon enough I’ll put them down in black and white. Of course most importantly is that cyclo-cross season is just around the corner. Although I won’t be racing this year or even pre-riding the course now – I hope I can still give you guys lots of tips/insight and share my experiences from racing over the years. I’m thinking of doing a couple of weekly blog posts about different aspects of ‘cross (so if you have questions, ideas, etc – let me know!).

A big thanks to everyone who contacted me through this website, Facebook, Twitter, email, came in person, called, etc – Marc and I are truly appreciative of this.

The biggest lesson I learned from 12 days on an ICU floor with lots of sick people – take care of your health. If you’re already unhealthy and then you get sick, it is so much harder for you to heal and recover. Drugs can only take you so far. Eat your vegetables. Move your body (even just a little bit). Get some fresh air.

Yes, it has been a while since I’ve shown up here. In fact it has been a while since I’ve shown up at all. I’ve been struggling lately. I always say that I’m going to be honest with you and let you know what is going on with me. Well as you likely know I’ve been dealing with an ulcerative colitis flare since late April. There have been days when I’ve felt like myself – convinced that next week I’d be fully recovered and ready to get back out and have some fun. And there have been days or dare I say weeks when I’ve felt the complete opposite.

Tired. Beaten down. Broken. These last few weeks have been rough. Maybe it is realizing that the summer is almost over and I haven’t done anything. It feels as time simply melted away from me. I went from believing that I would get better and still manage to have some fun to how I feel these days. It is almost the middle of August and I’m still waiting to get better. I’ve had days where I’ve moped around the house feeling sorry for myself. I’ve had days where I’m full of energy and manage to do too much (tricking myself that I’m getting better).

And now here I sit waiting. The latest medication has not helped. The numerous dietary changes have not made a difference. But today is big day. Today I’m going in for a colonoscopy – not a fun procedure (actually it isn’t so bad since I’m asleep for it – the prep is rough but when you have ulcerative colitis you get used to running to the bathroom quickly!) – but this procedure will tell me and my doctor a lot. Decisions will be made on my next course of treatment. I have a couple of options: Remicade or steroids. Both options have pros and cons. Essentially it comes down to trusting my doctor and choosing a treatment plan that is going to get me healthy for the long-term.

I’m ready to get my life back. I’m not really sure right now what this will entail. But I can guarantee that I won’t be wasting a single day or moment. I lost the fall and winter to a fractured vertebrae in my spine. I lost the summer to this beast of a disease. I’m ready for the fall of 2012 to be mine. I want to go to each and every of Marc’s cyclo-cross races and cheer him on. I want to see my friends out racing and giving it their all. I want hop on my bike for an easy ride without worrying about bathrooms. I want to lace up my running shoes and get out on the trails. I want to be myself again. I need this for myself but more importantly I need this for the number one person in my life. As hard as this has been on me, it has been harder on Marc. He has to watch from the sidelines completely helpless – there is nothing he can say, do or even dream that can help. I can’t imagine how horrible this must be.

I’m pressing the reset button today. No matter what happens today, I know that at least I’ll be moving forward.

Over the last few months I’ve come to know a good guy named Howard Botting. Howard lives in England and is like me – a cycling fanatic. We chat fairly regularly over email about all things bikes (debating the merits of Bradley Wiggins and the wonders of an ice cold Coke after a hot ride) and life in general. Howard is doing a lot of racing these days so I asked him to write a race report about one of his recent races.

Thornton Trophy Road Race report

As a cyclist I like to think I’m realistic about my limitations – I’m a 3rd cat club man who rides because he wants to keep fit and races because he enjoys dressing up and pretending he’s Fabian Cancellara on Sunday’s.

Every now and then though I get flashes of optimism, it’s moments like this that see me lining up for races like the Thornton Trophy Road Race, which took place last Sunday 29th July.

The Thornton Trophy is a race for tough guys! It takes place in Northumberland, England. This is Border Country, where England meets Scotland. The scene of countless battles between the English and Scott’s….Braveheart Country!!! It’s run over 60 miles and takes in 3 ascents of the much feared Ryalls. The 2010 British championships was run over this course and it took a certain Bradley Wiggin’s to tame this beast of a climb and be crowned champion.

After a difficult first half of the season I had got things back on track in recent weeks and my form was about where I wanted it to be. So I was hopeful of a decent performance.

Watching the Olympic Road Race on Saturday filled me with motivation. Eating rice pudding made to a secret recipe passed on by a certain Vicki Thomas filled me with energy…I was going to need it!

I got to the race in plenty of time to get my bike ready, sign on, make myself look good and chat to a few old friends. Warming up my legs felt ok. The rain showers that were forecast had held off, but there was a fierce westerly wind, which would make it tough.
The pace was fast right from the off, with a full field of 60 riders vying to get a good position at the front of the bunch ready for the climb. I started towards the back of the bunch (I always do) but was slowly inching my way to the front. The wind was pushing the bunch to the right side of the road, so I ran the gauntlet of sheltering from the wind and using the space on the left to move up. This paid off and after 8 miles I was right up the front, in the first 10 and sitting pretty.

A heavy shower of rain soon put paid to all my hard work. The wet roads were too much for my nerves and I slipped to the back of the bunch where I felt safer – don’t ask me why, I just can’t handle racing in the wet. Luckily it was an isolated shower and we were soon back onto dry roads. Only problem was we were almost on the hill…the dreaded Ryalls.

Taking a few risks I hit the hill about half way up the bunch, giving myself some much needed ‘sliding room’. The hill goes up in 3 sections, the steepest of which is about 1 in 6! Within seconds riders were all over place, it was every man for himself. Some going forwards others going backwards. Luckily for me I was going forwards, but not quickly enough to make the selection. A group of about 30 riders crested the hill together, with another 30 following in 1’s and 2’s.

Lady luck was on my side and the riders I was with soon got organised into a group of 6. All desperate to get up to the bunch (or what remained of it) we chased like mad for about 5 agonising miles. We were all on the rivet, pulling through and off as best as we could. There was no talking, we all knew what we had to do….just nail it until we get back on. As the bunch turned into a headwind section they eased just enough for us to bridge the final gap. Gasping for breath I shouted ‘nice work lads’, there was no reply, just a few nods of agreement for my fellow chasers….job done!

So, it was 1 down 2 to go. Once again we were fast approaching the climb. Enjoying some shelter at the back of the bunch I re-fuelled, taking on water and a gel. Once that was done it was time to get my mind ready for the next brutal ascent….’come on, you can do this, it’s only pain…anything to convince myself I wouldn’t get dropped.

The silence of the bunch was interrupted by the race commissaire who announced that the lone leader had a lead of 1 minute. In all the mayhem of our chase I hadn’t realised that someone had broken away. I wondered how he’d managed to do it…how fit must he be?
Once again I hit the hill about mid way down the pack, but as it was now down to 30 odd riders this was a good position and was holding my own. I glided over the first 2 rises with the bunch, but the gaps were slowly growing. My legs began to burn with pain and in a desperate attempt to regain lost ground I whacked it into the big ring on the short descent, before the final rise. By this time my legs were shot and I was now labouring where previously I was gliding. Within what seemed like a few desperate seconds the bunch slipped away and that was that, I was dropped again and facing another desperate chase to get back.

This time round the urgency to regain the bunch wasn’t quite there. A group of 5 of us got together, but where last time we automatically formed a well drilled pace line, we were all looking at each other to do the work. I put in a few big turns which were matched a couple of my fellow chasers, but others were sitting on. I shouted at them to work, hoping a few choice words would encourage them, but I was met with an equally robust tirade in return….I knew the score.

The final lap of the race was purgatory. At times we could see the race cars behind the bunch, in fact at one point I swear we were only 30 seconds down. But it was no good, we just didn’t have it in us. The wind had whipped up and it was murder battling into it. Our lonely group of 5 ploughed on, 4 working 1 sitting on for the ride – ‘team mates up the road’ he said when I challenged him….yeah!

My parents had come out to watch the race, so with a stubborn sense of misplaced pride I was determined to keep racing and try to drop my fellow chasers the last time up the hill. People tell me I’m a ‘diesel rider’ and luckily for me my tank wasn’t quite empty. I’m not sure if it was Vicki’s rice pudding, that gel or sheer pride but I summoned one last bit of energy to get myself over that damn hill. At the top my parents were there willing me on with a cheery smile, clearly unaware of the agony I was going through inside.

Glancing over my shoulder I was pleased to see that our group was down to 2, myself and a young junior rider from the Ferryhill Wheelers – a legendary club who have produced a long line of fine riders. We gritted our teeth and gave it one last blast to hold off the remnants of our group. Working well during the final 5 miles we managed to pick off a lone straggler from the bunch. The sprint for the line must have looked pretty ugly, but we both gave it all we had. The young lad beat me convincingly, but I didn’t mind. I was just glad to have finished.

That evening I watched Lizzie Armistead roar to a fine silver medal in the women’s Olympic Road Race. Sipping a nice cold beer I relived the day’s action, reckoning that even though I hadn’t come away with a medal I’d done myself proud and looked forward to doing it all again next Sunday…….

To read more about the race, visit this link: http://www.britishcycling.org.uk/road/article/roa20120729-road-Road–Norris-storms-to-Thornton-win-0

Thanks Howard for the excellent race report! It is always encouraging to read other’s account of racing and to realize that everyone goes through the same things mentally and physically while out there pressing down on the pedals.