Diamond Blackfan Cross

Well, got me a cross learnin'. Race both Cat 4 and 3/4. Cat 4 was first, got the whole shot and rode comfortably at the front for most of first lap. Let a SKC rider come around me and was doing fine sitting on his wheel. He was braking a bit too much for me in some of the corners so I tried to move past him on one of the corners. He came back across and hit my front wheel. Wasn't intentional or anything like that, but it happened. I went down, lost maybe 2 spots and got back on. About 30 feet later my front wheel slid out in a corner and I was down again! That one really screwed with my momentum and I lost some more spots. Had a hard time getting back in rhythem after that and knew I wouldn't be placing. Couple tough sections on the course, but it was pretty good overall. Was getting fairly winded and when last lap came up decided to just try and maintain due to the fact I had a harder race later that day. Ended up coming in 10th place out of a lot......apparently almost 60 racers in Cat 4! Can't complain too much there - only 2nd cross race ever.

Jane raced the cat 4 women and did fairly well also. Out of 20 she managed another 5th place and got a small schwag payout. Congrats to Joe Anderson who took 3rd in the men's 35+ cat 4. Pretty much a solid race overall. He was looking really fast and smooth early in that race. Didn't get to see the last few laps of his race.

Britton went to the firing range in men's open - racing with a whole mess of fast riders - including multiple world champion and overall bike racing bad ass Steve Tilford.

Dan Oldehoeft, myself, steve v. and joe a. lined up in the 3/4. Another healthy showing of almost 40. This race shot off fast. It was immediately apparent this was going to be painful. It was pretty hot too. 85 degrees. Dan got settled in near 6th place and I was maybe 11-12. Pretty much it only went backwards from there. I passed a few but mostly got passed. The course at this time was nice and packed down, faster through most sections. Ended limping home in 18th place. Still not bad. Dan however, managed to pull out 3rd place. Great cyclocrosser and last years KS cat 4 champ.

Thanks to everyone who helped put on this event! Cyclocross is amazing in KC and not many cities in the Midwest can do it as well as KC almost every weekend.

KC Cup Cross

For my first cross race ever, I'm pretty happy. Took 3rd in the Cat 4 race of 30 something. Race started and I settled in about 8th place initially. Basically if you're in top 3 once you get onto the course, your chances of staying there are pretty good. Worked my way up and after about 2 laps I was sitting in 2nd-3rd. Tried to catch up to the leader and started getting tired, slipped back to 3rd and watched him ride away. Spent the last 1.5 laps making sure I didn't get passed. Tons of fun.



Jane in her first cross race took 5th place. Pretty good. Looking to improve next weekend.

Tour of Missouri

By far the best tour so far. Hopefully it sticks around for awhile. Ran into Lt. Gov Peter Kinder and I thanked him for his work in supporting this race. He asked me where I live and when I told him KCMO he told me to email the Gov. and show my support and ask to bring it back. When I asked him about maybe a title sponsor in the future he started talking about how KC has almost zero sponsor representation. Almost all the major sponsors are St.L based - KC has been getting a free ride for the last 3 years. (cerner and on goal are silver level sponsors)

Race was great. Made it to St. Joe and of course KC circuit. Was watching from several vantage points during the race - the best was on the climb up summit. Lots of people and fun environment. Although had to go back to the start finish/pershing/broadway due to being able to watch the video and listen.

Zabriskie winning was a no brainer - the most shocking was how Tom Zirbel lost his podium spot. He had one job...stick the wheel of Pinotti. First lap on the sprint line he got blasted, Pinotti stole his podium. Nice way to welcome to Zirbel to international cycling as he's moving to Garmin.

In non tour events, Matt P. layed down 1380 watts on the cycle ops spin bike in the power competition. He won the overall and will be bringing home 10 steaks and a t-shirt.

Cyclocross starts saturday.


AYHSMB

Cat 3

After Sedalia, I knew I wouldn't be racing road anymore this season. So, in keeping with what I've been saying for awhile - I upgraded to the 3's.
Considering that this was my first season racing and I moved from 5-3, I'm pretty happy. Although I did race a lot of races, I easily got enough upgrade points in a span of 4 months. It was nice winning money in the 4's. For the most part I felt I could show up to most crits and RR's and make bank. - that's usually a sign an upgrade is in order.
Although I will say that I was dissappointed I couldn't race Tour of KC part 2. I felt I was in prime shape for that one. - what really sucked about that was I pre-registered the day I got appendicitis.
Another quick thought is that my last 2 races as a 4 were spent racing in 3/4 fields. The first race in Springfield my teammate crashed directly in front of me and I went down. The second race in Sedalia went down. Not a good way to enter the 3 field.

Still looking forward to a good cross season. Wrist is still sore (although much better) from a week ago and can't quite ride rough conditions. Hopefully all will be in order for Swope Cross.

Dirty Dalia

Damnit.

Speed all the way down to Sedalia so we don't miss registration. Have pretty much zero warm-up. Line up without pre riding the course. Five laps in my back tire slides out in one of the many shitty corners. Not exactly sure what happened, heard a crash to my left on one of the left hand turns and all of a sudden I was on the ground sliding. My left side has some good road rash and sprained my wrist pretty good. Tore up my left shoe also.

Britton also wrecked on the last lap. got destroyed with road rash. Also broke a carbon set of bars.

I went to school and played soccer for SFCC in sedalia for a year before transferring and I never really liked that place. Pretty sure I will never return again. I'm also investing in some gloves that have wrist guards built in. Not a way to go out on the road season. Screw that course.

Stuff

Enjoyed a nice vacation last week. Went up to my homestate Wisconsin and saw some relatives, camped up north for awhile, hung out in Madison - awesome city. Got some riding in too. Nothing too tough.

Did the tuesday night crit last night. Felt like crap. haven't worked that hard in awhile. All that traveling and eating like crap from the days previous showed itself that night.

Getting fairly burnt out on road anyway. Looking at doing the Sedalia Crit this saturday as my last road race for the season. Probably skip sunday's road race and not go to gateway cup the following weekend.

On the other hand, just got my cross bike from Britton at Volker Bikes. That thing is so fun to ride - it almost feels illegal it's so fun. I will post pictures soon. Took it out on it's maiden voyage tonight with Jane, Joe and Britton at Gilham park right by my house. Spent about an hour just tearing around and doing mini races. pretty good time. Racing cross will be a blast and very painful at the same time.

Appendix

Put in some good workouts the past week in prep for Tour of KC. Was planning on riding Wednesday night hill ride but mid-day wednesday had a bit of upset stomach feeling - combined with other malaise symptoms I opted out of the ride. I didn't think too much of it - I often have a sensitive GI system and just considered this something I may have ate or gas pain...something like that. Went to bed with a bit of discomfort and awoke at about 1 am with increased pain. Being in dental school I've got a decent medical background and noted some tenderness in my lower right abdomen. This discomfort and tenderness continued throughout the night - couldn't fall back asleep until 6 am. The majority of symptoms I was experiencing was classic appendicitis - I just didn't want to believe it. Woke up at about 7 am, tenderness still existed but much of the discomfort had gone. I made the decision not to go to school and see what develops. Well in the next 20 minutes the discomfort returned on an increased level - as well as more pain in the lower right. Made the decision to get to the ER. At that moment had a 90% belief I would be getting surgery that day. There were a few other differential diagnosis, but I was hoping it was just appendicitis - more definitive treatment and it's done.

Long story short they did an abdominal CT, noted a "stone/fecalith/crap" blocking the entrance to my appendix and subsequent inflammation. Went under at 2pm. Spent the night at KU Med, home today at about noon. Pretty sore, obviously not racing tour of kc which I registered for wednesday afternoon- $60 out the window with no chance of refund. Doctors suggestion is no serious workout for 4 weeks. I'll probably be back on the bike in a week soft pedaling and see where I go with that. But this might mark the end of my road season - I don't want to waste money on Gateway Cup in a month and get my ass kicked if I don't retain some good fitness and can't go 100%.

Atleast there is still cross. As we speak Britton at Volker Bicycles is working like a mad man crafting another cyclocross creation. Should be good.

Got a nice vacation planned though - leaving next weekend to see family in Wisconsin for a couple days and then Jane and I are heading up to Door County, Wisconsin to camp for a week. We're bringing the bikes.