I’ve been not feeling that great the last week. I’m not sure if I got some funk flying back from California or what. Plus, I have a tooth ache that seems to be not getting better even though I went to the dentist a couple days ago.

I’m not really worrying too much about it like I normally would. It is still nearly 2 months before I want to be riding well, so I don’t mind being “down” now. The only problem is that I’m supposedly doing 5 cyclo-x races in the next 9 days and as we all know, it’s pretty hard to fake it in cyclo-x. And it’s pretty hard to get better technically in the sport when you’re redlined the whole race.

Training has been a chore the last week. I’ve been going through the motions, but not really training, just riding. Mainly on gravel, which breaks up the monotony.

I went down to Lawrence yesterday to meet up with my Tradewind Energy team guys and have dinner. That was fun, but I have a super headache today and only had two beers. I am such a lightweight. I must be allergic to something in it because I never feel good after drinking beer.

It was nearly 70 degrees here in Topeka yesterday and now the high today is going to be in the mid 40’s. It’s gonna seem cold. In Tulsa, over the weekend, it’s supposed to be in the upper 70’s. It is weird how that seems hot racing cross when just a few weeks ago it was nearly cool riding road bikes. The body is strange in that re-guard.

Anyway, I decided that I’m going to learn how to surf after all this cyclo-x silliness is over. I watched a couple surfing movies and decided it was about time I actually did it. I’ve spent lots of time in the ocean and have had tons of opportunities to surf, I just never did. I body surf nearly everytime I go to the ocean. I’ve always enjoyed it more and thought it was more physical and a better workout that actually surfing. Plus, all you need is a swimsuit. It is the same as I like to snorkel more than scuba dive, even though I’m licensed to dive. It seems more streamlined, less encumbered. Or cross county ski instead of downhill.

But, all that above aside, I’m going to learn how to surf. I’m not sure where. I’ll probably start somewhere in Southern California. Maybe not. Maybe Costa Rica. I have this friend, Greg Miller, that I used to race with who now owns a hotel on the beach in Costa Rica. Greg used to own a bike shop in Seal Beach, CA called Sand Piper and he finally came to the conclusion that it is nicer living in Costa Rica on the beach than in Seal Beach fixin’ bikes, so he pulled up roots and moved. He’s been trying to get me to come down to Costa Rica for a long time. His place in Costa Rica is also called Sand Piper and he is always posting photos of great breaks right from his place. And the water is warm there.

I don’t know anything about it really. I do know I’d like to have a new athletic challenge and relax some at the same time and surfing seems to fit both. I have no idea how long it will take to get proficient enough at it to be satisfied. Probably longer than I’ll be alive.

I saw this photo somewhere a couple months ago and it is what got me thinking about wanting to surf. I know I'll most likely never be able to experience something like this, but I can always hope.

I hate it when I have to decide about which race to go to. Especially when both the races are good events that I’ve raced previously. That is the case this weekend. I hate it even more when I have to make that tough decision when I’m riding and feeling like shit. But, in cyclocross, there is no hiding, so there isn’t an easy race to do. I saw it happen in MTB racing and now in cross, the promoters don’t get together and figure out a good race schedule for the season. I’d like fewer races that are bigger. People seem to think that races such as these, Oklahoma and Nebraska, aren’t competing for the same riders. That isn’t true.

Nationally, there seems to be an open weekend before Thanksgiving. Not in the Midwest. There is the Nebraska Race Weekend in Lincoln. Both the days are in Pioneers Park and the courses are great. And then there is the Ruts and Guts races in Broken Arrow, a suburb of Tulsa. It has such a prizelist that it is impossible not to support.

The Nebraska races are the State Championships. Plus, my buddies, the Sheclismo’s (click the link to get all the info) have their own ranking/scoring/entertainment system to add to the excitement for the women. If you are lucky, you can get the secret handshake for the Sunday morning/post race party/hangover breakfast. Those guys support women’s bike racing as well as I’ve witnessed anywhere. They make it fun and easy to participate.

The Ruts and Guts has a crazy prize list for cross. $1000 to win for the Elite men and $750 for the women. Plus all the other categories are good too. The races are Friday night and Saturday. Cross racing in dryer climates, California, Texas, and even Oklahoma is sometimes more like MTB racing. That is something that I failed to consider last year. Last year they had a goathead issue there. I flatted just about every tire I owed. Tufos with latext was the tire of choice last year. I don’t have any of those, but I have clinchers sealed up tubeless. I flatted two slime tubes that weighed 500 grams each last year. I have been assured that won’t be the case this year. (see comment below)

The guys in Oklahoma know how to enjoy themselves and put on great races too, just like the Nebraskans. It’s a pity that the races are overlapping. I guess I could always drive up to Lincoln for Sunday. Now that’s a thought.