Yearly Archives: 2014

Heading to Texas

This entry was posted in Racing on by .

I got a bee in my bonnet and decided to head down to Austin for a little bit. I officially entered the US Cup MTB race on Saturday. And if I have anything left after that, I’ll race the Lago Vista Road Race on Sunday.

I haven’t raced a sanctioned MTB race in years. So many years that I don’t have a result shown at my USAC results page.

I decided last year I was going to switch it up a little this season and reconnect with aspects of the sport that I’ve either ignored or just not been able to participate in, for various reasons.

Plus, the winter returned to Topeka yesterday. I rode 30 miles yesterday in the teens. There are two local races in Kansas this weekend, but the highs both days are supposed to be 16 degrees. That is approaching too cold to road race.

On the other end of the spectrum, I see the high in Austin on Saturday is predicted to be 80 degrees now. I’m thinking that is going to be pretty hot, for me, racing off-road.

I feel like I’m pretty removed from the MTB scene. These races are all UCI, so they adhere to the UCI rules. Start order, short lap, equipment pits, etc. In theory I don’t like a lot of it, but I’m going to try to keep an open mind.

My MTB bike is archaic. We’ll, not totally. My Eriksen titanium frame is state of the art, but the rest is pretty dated. I could have made some phone calls, scurried around and updated it all, but I figured I’d just ride it as it is. Less chance of any mechanical issues, plus I am not really knowledgable enough to know exactly what I should be riding. I do know that my wheels aren’t really good enough to be racing. They weigh a ton, but I think starting 70 guys back will probably make that much less of a concern.

Anyway, it should be fun and a relearning experience. It’s 10 hours to Austin and we’re not to Oklahoma City yet, so have a ways to go.

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Bromont is jammed I the back of the Isuzu Trooper.

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I was putting honey on an English muffin this morning. I thought this was funny-“Made by American bees.”

In Austin

This entry was posted in Comments about Cycling on by .

Yesterday I did the 700 mile drive to Austin from Topeka. It was pretty uneventful. I’ve done it a ton of times. The key is the correct timing. Hitting Oklahoma City, Dallas-Fort Worth and Austin at the appropriate times makes for a much shorter duration. I thought I was off yesterday, getting to Austin at a little after 6, but it turned out fine.

I didn’t ride at all yesterday. That is only the 2nd day off I’ve taken in February. I slept 10 1/2 hours last night. I like getting big sleep. I was feeling pretty worked the last couple days, so maybe the day off and the sleep will get me back to a level I’m alright with.

I’m going over to the MTB course today and pre-ride. It is 40 miles away. First, I’m going to go for a couple hour road ride so I don’t get to the course all stiff and out-of-sorts. The course used to be on a ranch that owned, near Dripping Springs. I think it is not there anymore. I’ve ridden my road bike out there, on my way to Johnson City, but have never been by the MTB race course. I haven’t ridden off-road since the Berryman Epic last fall, so I’m sure to be pretty rusty.

Okay, I should get my bikes out of the car and check them out. Still supposed to be 80 here on Saturday. Wish they would downgrade that temperature some. But, back in Topeka, the high is forecast to be 9 for Sunday’s race. I’m not sure which is worse/better.

Adam Mill's Think FInance Team was here already. They brought their trailer and van down for the two weekends.

Adam Mill’s Think FInance Team was here already. They brought there trailer and van down for the two weekends.

So, we ended up with a blow up bed in the exercise room, which is fine.

So, we ended up with a blow up bed in the exercise room, which is fine.

Ann was a big LAF supporter. I'm not sure if sleeping under this is a good thing or not.

Ann was a big LAF supporter. I’m not sure if sleeping under this is a good thing or not.

The Think guys headed out for a 5 hour ride this morning. They made a Skatch Lab receipe of sticky rice things to carry with them.

The Think guys headed out for a 5 hour ride this morning. They made a Skatch Lab receipe of sticky rice things to carry with them.

The wrapped them in foil and stuffed them into their jersey pockets. I don't have enough energy to do that nowadays.

The wrapped them in foil and stuffed them into their jersey pockets. I don’t have enough energy to do that nowadays.