Comments about Cycling | Steve Tilford

This morning we’re packing up and heading to Clear Lake Iowa to race tonight. There is a criterium at the Flyover Race in Clear Lake at 7 pm tonight. It is a short course with 8 corners. Sounds fun.

This race is the final race of the Flyover Series. It is a super group of races and it is starting to have a pretty big following in the Pro 1/2 category. I think there are nearly 70 guys pre-registered for the race tonight, which is pretty huge for a regional midwest field.

It is hard leaving Cable. I have mainly been resting, hoping to feel a little better after last week in Louisville. I have no idea how that went. Yesterday it was raining most of the morning, so I rode my MTB with Tucker in the woods, then went swimming with him. The dog loves water. But it dried up a little later and it cleared enough to road ride a little. It was a good idea to ride, but not great for my mentality. I felt pretty sluggish, never really loosening up. But, today is a different day.

It is about 5 hours from Cable to Clear Lake, so leaving late morning is fine.

Last night we finally got over to the Rivers Eatery for dinner. Those guys have been super busy every time I’ve stopped by to say hi. Tuesday’s, Wednesday’s are like Friday nights now. We were sitting outside and we had to move in because it was too cold. I think it was in the mid 50’s by then, a little more than 1/2 the high temperatures in Kansas now. It is going to be a big change once again.

The Tour of Lawrence is next weekend in Lawrence Kansas. If you don’t have anything scheduled, you should try to make it. The city itself is super fun to hang out at, plus the races are fun. The criterium on Sunday is in downtown Lawrence, with is really healthy and jammed with spectators. Super prizes for all categories and good racing. Hard to beat that.

Trudi is flying back to Europe on Sunday morning out of Kansas City. She is only back in Europe for 10 days this time, so it isn’t a long stint. She has a couple days off, then has to head off to get ready for the Tour of Utah. She has been pretty busy the past couple months.

Okay, I guess I need to pack up again. It is great having the Tour on every morning.

Beth, me Dennis and Mick last night at the Rivers Eatery.

Bromont paying-it-forward to Dennis. Dennis says he’s never going to redeem it, so it stays on the board.

Tucker is going to miss his play buddy, Hawkeye.

Tucker even like to swim by himself.

Yesterday was very hard for me. I’m not good. I guess I’m sick, but it is a weird sickness.

I did the 5 hour drive from Cable to Clear Lake Iowa to race at 7 pm. On my way, I called my friend Shadd Smith to see if he was coming to the race. Shadd races for the Olathe Subaru Team and I hang with them most of the time since I haven’t had any team mates around most this year.

Anyway Shadd tells me he has been pretty sick every since Louisville. And that 3 of their guys aren’t coming to the race because they were sick. I woke up after the criterium, last week, with a super sore throat and crazy headache. I had never had a sore throat when I was taking antibiotics, unless I was taking the antibiotics for my throat. Anyway, after a day or so the headache went away, but my throat has been sore since. Shadd has the exact some symptoms.

Then Stacie, who I was staying with at Louisville got really sick. She did the 800 mile drive up to Cable, spend one day, and then curled up in the back of their truck and they drove home. She was bad.

I’ve just been feeling weird. Sometimes I was okay, but when I wasn’t riding or moving, I was super achy and lethargic. I’ve been doing that sinus rinse thing, and wasn’t really that concerned.

Anyway, last night I thought I was okay. I rode nearly an hour before the race and felt alright. I was optimistic. But right when I clipped in, it was not good.

The course was hard. It was short, .7 miles, with 8 corners. It had a small rise on the backstretch, which really strung the field out. Anyway, it was in a long line and I was never comfortable. I was doing my best to being pack filler. The whole race my sinus’ were dripping into my lungs and I was hacking constantly.

Towards the end of the race, it got ugly. There was a small break away and the last 5 laps, it got going harder. This put a lot of guys to their limit. Lots of riders were sitting up and others were falling. I guess the efforts were making them worse bike handlers or something, but individuals were falling randomly in corners, splitting the field.

I kept getting caught behind splits and barely made it back each time. I finally just put my mind to it and said all I need to do is finish in the field. And I just did, barely. The last lap I was last guy on, and barely stayed there. I can’t remember a time I rode like this. I have to admit, it took a lot of perseverance. Looking back at the numbers, I sucked. And I was hurting. I had an average heartrate of 169 and a maximum of 189. So much for that low heart rate deal. I guess I can only get my heart rate up is when I am struggling.

So, today I’m not racing. No one is. The race has been cancelled. That wouldn’t have made any difference, I wasn’t starting anyway. I woke up early, at 5:30, with Trudi, who drove to Kansas City to fly to Switzerland. Just a little while later, I heard thunder. It has been raining pretty constantly since.

This season has been pretty challenging, mentally for me. I’m not sure if it is just bad luck or what, but I have been out of sorts most of the last couple months. I don’t really feel that bad, but yesterday was awful. Man, if bike racing was always that hard, I’d consider a different lifestyle.

I have a week before Tour of Lawrence next weekend. I’m heading home and will try to feel better by then. I guess I need to rest some, but I feel better when I’m riding. Weird.