Riding and stuff

Finally able to get a few good days of riding in. Weather has been good lately, although it has been very windy. Just now putting in some bigger efforts on rides. Did my first spring fling on saturday. It was a good day to ride, that's about all i can say about that day. My goal going into it was to just get a good workout. Wasn't too interested in killing myself or anything like that. Not much pop in the legs at this time, so when riders started launching to bridge a small gap I stayed. Thinking it would come back together I looked around me and realized that wasn't going to happen. Eventually 2 bike shack racers who were off the front, Kent Woerman included, lapped us and they dragged us back to the group.

Winter riding

Been busy with job searching, traveling for job interviews, getting stuff in order to graduate, and the biggest - getting ready to take clinical boards. Oh yeah, I'm also getting married in less than 2 weeks. So it's been a busy winter, which has made riding pretty tough. Still building some base fitness and am realistically a month away from being close to fast. Just got done riding the GOTHR ride. 45 miles and I was struggling to keep up. not sure when my first race will be. This time last year I had been pretty busy with spring flings and perry dam race but I've been opting out of those. It'll come around soon enough. After I graduate, I'll have about a 6 weeks before I can actually begin working due to licensing etc. Plan on doing a lot of riding and racing during that time.

music

First time I've posted anything music related on here. Probably the best version of this song I've heard live. Nothing really comes close to SRV on guitar.

The off-season - *plus bonus video*

After the cross race on Dec. 5th I've slid into a non bike mode. I've occasionally spun around but not much else. Got back in the pool and weight room. Pretty depressing how much upper body strength I've lost in the almost 2 years of not lifting seriously. I've shed what amounts to about 20 lbs. of muscle mass to my current hovering weight of 160. Went on a few runs but it's been pretty cold lately.

I also had a 3 week cram session for the second half of my national board exam which I took in mid December. I'm about 99.9% I passed, I just have to receive my scores to confirm. I've only got one more semester left and it will consist of preparing for my clinical board exam and job searching. Jane and I could really end up anywhere - Wisconsin, Colorado, Oregon, or stay put for a couple years. We'll see what happens.

We just got back from a week in Colorado. It was pretty nice and got to enjoy a few days on the slopes. I mostly snowboard but did get on the skis for a day. The video is of a cruiser run on peak 7 at Breck. Jane was following on skis. It was one of only a few runs that would allow for decent filming while holding a camera in hand. Had great snow that day but it was frigid cold. I don't think it got above 0 degrees above the tree line all day. Had an interesting time going up the T-bar when it stopped mid-way. The wind was blowing pretty stiff and by the time I made the peak I had to run into the ski patrol shack to warm up. Once inside a ski patroler kindly let me know that some frost had formed on the tip of my nose and advised me to let that warm up. The snow was worth it though. 8 inches provides enough powder to do about anything you want. Bombing the steeps with fresh snow is about as good as it gets. The one thing about breck is it's pretty crowded - but probably deservedly so. It does get tracked out relatively quick. On good snow days it's a race to find the good snow before it's gone. We spent some time at keystone as well but in my opinion there isn't enough variation in terrain there. They do have some long and consistently steep groomers though.
Jane and I also ice skated on the largest outdoor ice rink - I think it was 5 acres.



So beginning tomorrow I'll drag myself to the trainer to begin what is my second season of bike racing. Cat 3 road should be interesting - I'll try to prepare as best I can but it will be a busy spring and summer for me. On the list is getting married, graduating from D. school, finding a job/beginning practicing. My goal is to just keep improving. I'm am really looking forward to next cross season as well. Should be good.

De Stad Cup - it was muddy.

Epic? or just lots of rain and mud? I have to admit I'm a bit of a fair weather cyclist. I'll ride when it's cold, or ride in the rain, but you have to be really motivated to race in the worst of conditions.

Last race of the DeStad series and all the good weather we've had for every cross race previous caught up to us. Rained all day, temps hovering around 40, course was apparently decent for first couple of races but by the end of the day for the 3 race it was destroyed. In conditions like that you're either liking it and doing well or not having it. It was fun the first lap but the novelty quickly wore off. Once you get mud in your eyes and beat up by your bike from sliding around on course you're not racing and just going through the motions......at least this is what happened to me. I'd like to say I put forth a decent effort but it wasn't until last lap that I attempted to not let anyone else pass me. For the work that is required after in cleaning up (bike, clothes, yourself) it could possibly not have been worth it. Finished 16th out of 23.


Teammate Dan O. had a completely different frame of mind. After winning the KS Cat 4 cross champs last year, he killed it yesterday and won the KS Cat 3 cross title (finished 2nd behind a MO racer). Following in Dan's footsteps was Colavita/Parisi racer Andy Wiens winning the Cat 4 cross title! Two Colavita racers winning KS cross titles. Add to that our team's MO cat 4 road race title, KS cat 3 road race 2nd place, and multiple other road race and crit victories and podiums.

Thanks to all those that help put on the series. It has to be a thankless job sometimes but everything was amazing and you really can't ask for more regarding cross racing in KC.

HPT and Veterans Cross

After a good 4 days of rest after Platte City, I went out Thursday night for some quick interval work. Wasn't looking to kill myself but get a quick tune up prior to this weekend's races. Soft pedaled Friday and took a nice long warm up prior to Saturday night's race....

The race was at Heartland Park in Topeka. Course was centered around a dirt oval race track. Part dirt straightaway, grassy infield, usual off camber hills and turn and a couple sets of stairs. Pretty good course. Had a blast racing and it was a course that suited me relatively well. Oh yeah, it was also at night under the lights - pretty cool. Our cat 3 race was the last to go off at 7:45. Group of at least 20, not really sure how many total yet. Took off and settled into my usual 5th-6th place. Still in the first lap on the back half of the course and my chain hops off my chainring. I dismount, make the fix and am back at it. Got passed by almost 10 people and am sitting in 14th after the first lap. Didn't get too bothered and just started to ride with the people in front of me.
As opposed to the past 2 weeks where I was sucking big time, I was feeling good. The only direction I was going was up. Made a few passes early on and got into 11th. Stayed there until the last lap. Had a racer from Manhattan, KS in front of me that I was following much of the time. Together him and I passed his teammate to fall into 9th and 10th place. Climbed the first set of stairs and on the backside of the course he fumbled a bit and I made the pass and didn't look back. Crossed the line in 9th. I was as happy as I could have been for that race. Felt good to race in a groove again and not go into blow up mode after lap 1. Finished in sight of 7th and 8th place. Definitely felt that had I not had a chain issue could have maintained a top 7 or 8 finish.
Jane wasn't mentally or physically in it for her race and finished in 7th place.
Today was vet cross in Leavenworth, KS on the campus of St. mary's university. Good course, a bit bumpy on the backside with a couple tough climbs. Legs a bit tired from the day before but still got a decent warm-up in and was feeling good. Underestimated my condition for the race because it was one of those days where I was on. Had a poor start and spent the first lap finding a good wheel to get on. Lot of racers today- probably 35 or so. Was in a good rhythm, sticking the climbs and recovering where I needed to. Worked all the way up 6th place by the 4th lap. Joel Terry from SKC started to pull away and I was quick on his wheel with teammate David N. right behind me. David and I were trading positions for the first part of the race. Got to the second set of barriers and heard the sound of my chain dragging behind my bike. Looked down and it was hanging off my cassette with either a broken quick link or a quick link that somehow came undone on the rough course. That was the end of my race right there. I looked back and teammate David was pulled over pulling course tape out of his cassette. I ran back to give him a hand and got him on his way.
It sucks to have a mechanical when you're racing so good. Joel T. ended up coming in 3rd place. Who knows what would have happened but I would have had my best finish in the 3's. David managed to work his way back to about 6th place. Great job there. Good news is I'm on track to have to have good legs and fitness for next Sunday - back at St. Mary's U (although the weather is saying possible rain).

New teammate Andy Wiens locked up the win in the Cat 4's with a few other top 10's by Colavita/Parisi riders. Not sure of the full results. Erik Elving took 2nd in the master's 55+. Wiens also doubled up and raced in the 3 race with a solid result. Dan O. had a bum ankle or something like that and put a temporary end to his cross domination. Jane opted out for a temporary leave of absence.

Boss Cross #3

Went out to Platte City for Boss Cross #3. Course was so-so. Step incline that I rode up the first several laps and had to run up after my legs started to fade. Was a fast race. finished 13/16. Not so good of a result. Seems like I'm getting slower or my competition is getting faster. maybe a bit of both. I guess I am still in my first year of racing and first cross season. Still enjoying it - although not until 30 minutes after the race ends. It's funny how during the race when you're suffering you think to yourself "This sucks, why am I doing this, I need to cat down, I'm not having fun, etc...." But then shortly after the race you're just like, yeah, that wasn't so bad, had a good time, can't wait til next race! Actually most cyclists and endurance athletes probably suffer from some sort of dementia. they're hypnotized into thinking their sports is awesome and they love it eventhough the act of competing or racing is really painful and completely miserable. Right now for example- I want to go out tomorrow and get in some good training and threshold work. But just this past weekend I was thinking of taking 4 days off.

anyway, David raced great in the 3/4 race. 6th place in a super fast race. Jane got out of her 4th place slump and secured a 2nd place and $30 gift certificate to cycle city! We also had all 4 cat 4's place in the top 11 with Steve V. leading the way with his best finish to date. nice.

Sunday I didn't race although the course would have suited me well, fairly flat, moderately technical. Jane did race and rode to 3rd place.

Doubling up this next weekend in Topeka and then Leavenworth.