The Year in Review

The Michigan State Cyclocross Championship was my last race of the season. Even if I planned on more races, due to an unfortunate crash on the first lap, it still would have closed out my season. I ended up with a severely sprained thumb, and, after a couple weeks, it just hasn't been healing. Turns out the reason my thumb hasn't been healing, is that I have a torn ligament. Torn ligament = surgery... So, on Tuesday I go under the knife. After the ligament is repaired, it's 5 weeks in a cast followed by several weeks of PT. So, no riding outside for me until the cast is off and I have some strength/mobility back in my hand. My trainer and I are going to be intimate friends.

I've just been taking it easy these last couple weeks. I started a new gig at my company and there's been a lot to learn. So that's kept me busy (busy would actually be an understatement...) So, now that I've got some down time, it's a great opportunity for some reflection on the season past.

• Road Season: After an 8 year hiatus from road racing, I was finally giving it another shot. I got my license and I was starting out as a Cat 4. I can pretty much sum it up in one word: Disappointment. After a series of mid-pack finishes, a bad crash in June that I never quite recovered from, and a stalled out season-end, I was glad to say goodbye. This put me in a really bad spot coming into my "real" season, cyclocross. I was kinda depressed, over-trained, and just not enjoying myself. This taught me something. First, I had set some unrealistic expectations. And second and probably most important - Fun first. 

• Cyclocross Season: With an upgrade to B this year, I knew there would be some challenges. My crappy road season didn't help matters any and my first few 'cross races definitely reflected that. I started to find my rhythm near the end of October and I kinda stalled out. It seemed like everybody was improving except me. Even guys I was beating a couple races before were kicking my butt. That's when I remembered my new mantra - fun first. If you focus on having fun, everything else will come around. An even if it doesn't, you at least had a good time. This isn't my job, and God knows, I don't need it to feel like one.

That's why I have mixed feelings about the 'cross season coming to an end.  On one hand (my good one...) I had a lot of fun, and hanging out with all my fellow 'crossers is a good time, but on the other, I was wore out. Well, now I've got all the R&R I could ever want, as I rehabilitate my thumb over these next several weeks. Expect to see lots of blog entries and I'll update on how the surgery went (and the good drugs I'm prescribed...) when it's over.

My First Time

It finally happened. It's been 13 years, 7 months and 3 days since my first road bike purchase and yesterday, I finally lost my roller-riding virginity. It was lost the way I envision most roller-riding virgins are deflowered; the rollers are generously lent to the virgin by a friend (in my case, Steve). Steve's rollers are a set Performance polly-drum rollers, that, well, let's just say they've aged pretty good considering. Here's a pic if any one is longing for some good old 80's nostalgia. Dig that logo!!

So I bring them down to my basement and set them up in front of the TV. I know, everyone says to put them between a doorway, but, come on! I've been riding on the road for over a decade, I'm as steady as can be and some experts in the field would even describe my pedal stroke as supple. It can't be that hard... I set my bike on the rollers and realize the first challenge: gosh, my bike sure is high up, how the hell do I get up there?? Luckily, I had a small aerobics step nearby which worked out great. Time to saddle up!

I carefully get one foot clipped in and start pedaling to get some balance. Whoosh, whoosh go the rollers, two pedal strokes later and I'm still not clipped in and my back tire is off the drum resting on the roller frame. I set the bike back on and try again. Still no success. This happens about twice more and I realize that I've either underestimated the difficulty of roller riding or overestimated my cycling prowess (probably both).

I move the rollers to the doorway (I see now why this is the recommended starting point for newbies). I get set up and get on the bike. Bracing myself with one hand on the door frame and the other on the handlebars, I get clipped in. Success! I pedal. About 10 revolutions in, I gingerly remove my hand from the door frame and place it on the bar tops. I'll be damned, I'm actually doing this!

The sensation I get within the first five minutes of unsupported roller riding feels something like I imagine the premier performance of Road Bikes on Ice would feel like as performed from the deck of a large fishing vessel in the Bering Sea. Eventually the sea sickness subsides but I still can't shake the riding on ice sensation. Perhaps that's because any little movement on rollers has big consequences.

After about 10 minutes, I start moving my hands to the hoods and drops. Not too bad. One thing that is quickly apparent to me, this takes a lot of concentration. Any lapse and it's welcome to Swerve City. I also make a note that balancing on the bike is totally independent of my legs turning the pedals. It's all subtle shifts in my body. And I do mean subtle.

20 minutes in - things are going quite well and I'm actually working up a sweat. I thirst. My water bottle is in it's cage. Hell, muscle memory alone knows exactly where it is. Shouldn't be too much trouble to just reach down to retrieve it... Squueeal, thud, thud. Faster than you can say "Ciussi" my attempt to retrieve my bottle has landed both my wheels on the edge of the roller frame. the only thing that saved me was my shoulder hitting the door frame. I right myself and take a couple drinks while holding on to the door frame. That's definitely something I will need to work on.

With no other incidents to report, I cap my first session at 30 minutes. I coast to a stop and unclip, careful to make sure I don't slip and break my neck as I place my cleated foot on the plastic aerobics step.

That was more difficult than I imagined but the challenge makes it fun. Next session I'm going for 40 minutes and try a shift to the big ring, look out! My big goal will be to progress out of the doorway and to be able to drink some water... Is that asking too much?

Any other good roller tales out there? How about your first time, was it good for you? Let's hear it!

You're Damn Right I got the Blues!

That pretty much sums it up. My cyclocross season is over and blues legend Buddy Guy said it best, "You're damn right I got the blues." It was my very first season and I've loved every minute of it. From the first time I straddled my mountain bike and rode in the local practice race, to my somewhat comedic performance at States (6 in. of snow + Gary's poor bike handling skills = comedy), cyclocross racing has found it's way into my soul. It's like some place I always belonged. I hate labels, but I guess you could say I'm primarily a road cyclist. I love it but 'cross just feels right unlike any other cycling discipline I've tried.

And now that the season is done, I feel empty. 'Cross racing has left a void. How to fill it? Here are some of my feeble attempts:

• Blogging
• Subscribed to Cyclocross Magazine and ordered all the back order issues
• Continually looking for an amazing deal on some carbon rims (tubulars)
• Although it makes me a bit envious, long talks with my training buddy about all the stuff he's upgrading on his bike
• Surfing the web for anything 'cross related - I think all of the sites I've found are listed below to the right - anyone have any other good sites/blogs let me know!!
• Reading other folks blogs - a special shout out to Mud and Cowbells for the excellent 'cross content and photos

Any one got any other tips to fight the cyclocross season blues, I'd welcome them. I'm like a cyclocross-philic sponge and anything I can absorb to help fill the void, would be much appreciated.

In the meantime, if anyone else is feeling like me, here's about 9 minutes of this year's World Cup race at Pijnacker. So grab a Duvel and your favorite cowbell and enjoy. This should at least sate the 'cross beast for a little while!
World Cup - Pijnacker