Monthly Archives: November 2013

Testing the Cross Waters – Louisville Kentucky

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I’m not sure that racing today at the UCI race in Louisville is the proper venue for me to get back into cross this season, but that is how it is going to be. Yesterday I had a good time leading a cross clinic for a couple hours late in the afternoon. There was a good turnout, something around 30 or so riders. Tim Johnson and Peter Weber did a kids group that had maybe twice that many. It was super cool.

The course is many grass, no real mud, but tricky in a couple off-camber places. I’m having a little trouble picking my bike up over the barriers and up the stairs, but I’m sure I’ll be fine during the race. It seems like after I use my shoulder a couple times, it starts working better somewhat. It is funny how little pains aren’t even on the radar screen when you’re racing.

I have no UCI points, so I’m going to be starting close to the very back I assume. There are 64 guys registered for the Elite men’s race at 4 pm, so that is going to be around 8 rows back. That is fine. I’m going to hate it when I get to the line, but that is the way it is, so I’m going to have to deal with it.

Just about everyone good in the country is on the start list. Plus a couple good foreigners. One thing, I’m pretty sure I’m not going to have to sit up and not finish in the top 15 to avoid UCI points. There is almost no chance for me to finish that well. I have no plans on going to Master’s Worlds in January anyway, so having UCI points isn’t really an issue now.

If you want to watch the races live on the internet, Cyclingdirt.com is doing live coverage. I think you have to subscribe, but I’m not sure. Here is a link to their website. The women’s race is at 3 and the Elite men’s race at 4 pm EST.

I’m going to go for an hour or two this morning on my road bike to try to loosen up some from the flight and standing around all day yesterday at the course. I’ll be fine today, but will probably be stiff, sore, tired, etc. on Sunday. Riding around on grass at speed is really hard. I had sort of forgotten how hard until I did it yesterday.

The clinic was a good time yesterday.

The clinic was a good time yesterday.

Looks like there is going to be a little air action tomorrow afternoon. Wonder if he travels with his shovel?

Looks like there is going to be a little air action tomorrow afternoon. Wonder if he travels with his shovel?

Ryan Trebon went off a little yesterday to Velonews about Ryder too. I have to applaud him for that. He was making the stairs look easy.

Ryan Trebon went off a little yesterday to Velonews about Ryder too. I have to applaud him for that. He was making the stairs look easy.

But, you don't have to run them if you have the skills.

But, you don’t have to run them if you have the skills.

Louisville – DAY 1

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Don’t really have that much time this morning, so I’ll just do a short recap of the race yesterday. I finished 39th, which is the worst I’ve ever finished in a cyclocross in modern history. Even starting 100 guys back in Nationals I’ve finished better than that. But, it’s fine. I didn’t have any illusions about how I was going to finish. I have done nothing to really prepare for the efforts needed in cross. I’ve only race twice in the last 3 months and both of those races were long MTB races.

I didn’t get such a bad call-up. I was 42nd. I thought the start went pretty well, I passed a big chunk of guys early, but by the time I got to Trudi, at 1/2 lap in, she said I was in 40th. That was surprising at the time. I would have guessed I was close to 30th. Anyway, I can’t pinpoint anything that really went that badly. I was just sort of bad at everything. Not close to up to speed on anything.

Anyway, after two laps, I was 2 minutes back and realized that I was going to become a casualty of the 80% rule. It is hard putting much effort into a bike race when you know you are going to get pulled. I still tried to improve and ride smoothly, but was doing a pitiful job of that often. I was pulled when the leaders had one lap to go, so I had two.

I didn’t feel that bad riding. My lungs hated it the most. I was coughing up stuff for a while after. But, other than that, I was just slow.

The battle at the front was awesome. Ryan Trebon and Jeremy Powers changed leads two or three times the last 1/4 lap. It was an exciting finish. Should be just a good today.

I hope to do a little better today. I need to make a bigger effort at the start and not get stuck riding around with slower guys at the start. I guess it depends on my random number draw. Okay, I need to get going.

Not too sore from running yesterday.

Not too sore from running yesterday.

Lonely on the fly-over.

Lonely on the fly-over.