Randonee!

So, I had a couple of choices for riding today. One, was to drive almost three hours to race 8 miles in the Moody Park race, another was to ride in Pinnacle Bike Shop's dirt randonee, a 40+ mile fun-fest mixing it up on dirt roads and pavement. Hmmm.... not much of a choice. Especially with all this rain we've had. Every once in a while I DO try to do the right thing when it comes to preserving the trails we ride, and giving them a day or two to dry out, I think, was the right thing to do.

Mid-Season Slumber; Time to SNAP out of it!

I don't know what happened these last few weeks, er - now months, since Battenkill - but good grief I've gotten out of shape! Missed rides, low motivation, and general New England crappy weather blahs have conspired to make me feel like a semi-catatonic fool.

What to do? Plan to do some races - and try and get back in shape for 'cross season. I'm going to go bananas here and plan on a trail run too, in October - as my wife threw the gauntlet down, and I accepted the challenge.

Tell me where to go, and what we can do as a team; I've targeted the Hampshire 100 EFTA race, on August 21st, and the Ravenswood Trail Race on Saturday Oct. 16th - but would like to hit some shorter and closer races to tune up the engine at. Or perhaps organize a few Racer-X epic rides... or even another road race, though the Wells Avenue training races are always "fun", if racing in circles, in Newton, sometimes with traffic - is "fun".

That's all - back to our regularly scheduled programs!

Ride Report: Tuesday Pinnacle Shop Ride

Route as recorded by RunKeeper

Some days you're the buggy, some days you're the whip. Or a horse. Or hopelessly out of date and out of witty analogies. Wait - does one whip the buggy? Or the horse. WTF?

Whatever the case may be, I was not going to be able to ride the ECV TT on Wednesday this week, so I got a hall pass for a ride on Tuesday. Threw the hardtail 29'er on the car and zipped over to Pinnacle Bikes / Cyclocrossworld.com HQ to meet the gang for the shop ride. It was a small group - 4 of us total; Silas and Josh Anthony (yes, of the crazy fast / genetically gifted 'Anthony Clan') from the shop, and long time North Shore, MA stud Andrew Mahoney (owner of the stellar Atomic Cafe's in Beverly and Marblehead). Good thing these guys were "out of shape" and "injured" and generally all claiming all manner of excuses - as even with their "out of shape" form they still killed a sick ride - both technical and fast. And fun.

Rumpus or Ruckus? And what of Darius Rucker from Hootie and the Blowfish? Still Alive or What?

Heads up Vet 2 40-49 Novice Mountain Bikers You just got served at the Big Ring Rumpus!

(You may now resume handing me my ass on a weekly basis.)

Wow, what a crazy day! Where to begin? OK we'll start at the start.

Dave rolls over about 7:00am, we load up, and Team Hyphenated Last Name heads off to the Big Ring Rumpus up in New Hampshire.

Ride: The Boxy Car

Weather: Primo

Bikes: Ready

Spirits: High

Highway Speed: Evidently excessive as we are no sooner pulling onto the highway as we are pulled over with sirens and lights full-on. Dave and I look at each other as if to say "Wha?" I had a bad feeling on this one.

They Might Be Giants

I'm going to share a little secret with you; I'm tall. No, I'm not freakishly tall, like an albino Manute Bol, but I think I fall into the "above average" height category. Every bike I've owned has been XL, and my legs go all the way down to the ground. It's not very often when I have to look UP at someone. At 6'2", even if someone is a bit taller, up to 6'4" say, it's only my eyes that have to gaze up a bit (such as when I gaze in Jamie's beautiful eyes). So when I have to actually look up, with my head, it's a weird, weird feeling.

The Willows Weren't the Only Ones Weeping

Ah, Weeping Willow. It's hard to resist a race that's nearly in your back yard and on killer trails. That was my mindset when I signed up for the Open Singlespeed class. I had no delusions of fitness, no false ideas of grandeur. But I did apparently misconstrue the word "friend," as someone I thought was a friend left me to die.

Get Your Style On!

It's time to round up some orders on new, updated Racer-X team clothing. We're currently working on short-sleeve cycling tops, shorts (bibs & regular) and short-sleeve skin suits.  We're also getting a sample kit with other items (arm warmers, shoe covers, gloves, jackets, etc), so in the future, we'll know what other items will look and feel like.

2011 Willowdale Race report: Where's Dave?

Or more importantly - where's my fork seal? Oh - it's gone! That's why the fork is bottomed out and the race is about to start. Uh-oh. Here's my story:

Setting: Massively jammed start area staging / promoter doing final countdown to our Single Speed race group...
Glen: "DAVE!!! Can I use your other bike to race on?" (nice that Dave rolls in style with multiple steeds)

Dave: "Sure - it's locked to the roof rack, and the keys are hidden. And the seat will have to come down."

Glen: "OK - thanks!"

This is the conversation I had, just seconds prior to the 2011 Weeping Willow race start. With my pathetic, oil-soaked and bottomed out front end, I sprinted the 1/4 mile or so up to the parking area - then over to the car - while the rest of the SS start wave took off, on course. I found the keys to the car / rack, and quickly tried to unlock the Thule upright rack to free my 'plan B race machine'. Insert Thule key into Thule lock and - nothing. Try again. And again. Step down and look through the keys again. Yup - one of them clearly says Thule on it - so I try it again. And again.

Doh!

Still nothing.

Willowdale pre-rides; mud, roots, rocks

Jamie and I had a fun ride last week - where instead waiting for "everyone" sipping on sports drinks, nibbling on treats, and sucking on CamelBack hoses while chit-chatting every 10 feet, checking our various GPS receivers and such - we drilled it for a lap. The wrong way. From the wrong side.

But I digress...

2011 Racer-X Kits

David finally bugged me enough to get this going, and I've taken a very crude crack at making shorts / bibs to match the jersey design.

Glocester A Grind? Not at All! But the Ford Focus is Horrible.

OMG!!!! My white shoes! Someone will pay for this!

Being in a rental car sucks. If you're familiar with my earlier writings as a roadie you'll know I have great disdain for most rentals. I even have a scale I would use to rate rentals based on the worst rental I ever did rent, the Jeep Liberty. This weekends rental, the Ford Focus would get a solid five Jeep Libertys on the scale. It was horrible. My head had to stick out of the sunroof cavity just so I could drive (un)comfortably. Worse still, I have become certifiably addicted to satellite radio and my rental Focus does not have it. How do people listen to regular radio? It's terrible. Terrible. So I downloaded some Josh and Chuck from SYSK and set out this morning for Rhode Island under rain-soaked skies with no radio in a rental made for someone no taller than 5 foot 6. Where was my bike? In the trunk of course all disassembled. Oh, how the mighty have fallen!

Friends: Racer-X Style

Stuff happens on rides. That's just a fact of life.

A "friend" will stop and wait while you fix your bike.

A "good friend" will help, especially if your crank arm falls off into muddy puddle.

A "true friend"... a friend for more than 20 years, will stand by, belly laughing at your misfortune, and taking photos.

Race Report: Tour of Battenkill

J-Rock and G-Roll get it done!

Jamie Ryan-White Photo
If this is what real road racing is like - then mountain bikers take note; it was bad-ass. I have never, ever, never been so worked over after a race - any kind of race, except perhaps my one and only 24 hour solo effort in 2006 - an effort that netted 215 miles and about 16,000 feet of climbing. That was also Mr. - Thirty - Six - Year - Old - No - Kid 650+ hours a year training Glen. The current, 41 year old 200+/- hours a year training full-time Dad version seems to have a harder time making repeated hard efforts without blowing up.

I loved it.

A Tale of Two Days, or, Meh, It's New England

Having decided, or rather, having my lack of form decide for me, that Battenkill was going to be a character builder rather than a stepping stone to great things on the road this season I have turned to the mountain bike for solace. My fickle old-person mind having forgotten the trials and travails of last season's inaugural mountain bike race season I have somehow convinced myself that a fuller mtb racing schedule is the answer.

Marblehead Road Race

2011 Michael Schott Memorial Circuit Race - colder than any 'cross race last year...

At the front... for now. photo by Jamie Ryan-White

Oh hell it was cold out. Jumping out of the car to run the 20 meters to the registration table made me cold. I hadn't warmed up from loading the bike and gear into the car anyhow - but still. 9:00am and 26 degrees. Are you kidding? Throw in a side-ways wind, right off the ocean - and bam! It was cold. That's all I'll mention of it, and relay my billy-bad-azz "Harden the f#@& up" approach, right-quick.
The short version / back story about me and road racing is this: I got really into mountain biking. and racing out west - like from beginner to expert in two seasons, and to train for expert, I needed some road miles. A lot of them. Hard, fast, long. Then what happened? I grew to really like road riding too! Nothing sharpens the top end like fierce training rides on the road - and racing is even more decidedly evil / brutal / awesome. So there you have it. I do enough road races to know how to be careful and handle myself - but as a 40+ year old guy, I'll not ever try and contest a bunch sprint finish. Hanging with the main group is an achievement for me, and was the goal for this weekend. A guy can dream, right?

March (training) madness

The power / truth hurts! (click for full data)

I've got no clue about basketball - but know that with temperatures climbing into the 40's and above, it's damned nice to be back outside on the bikes again. This last week I had 3 solid rides; 50 miles last Saturday, 38.5 miles on Wednesday Evening, and then today just shy of 60 miles - and well into New Hampshire to boot. Mix in a few morning road bike / rollers sessions in the basement, and it feels like 2011 is off to a good start.

Need (2) able bodies (t)TTT test subjects!

This Saturday, March 5th - Jamie and I are signed up for an indoor Trainer Team Time Trial. We need two more suckers, er - teammates to come set there bike up in a Compu-Trainer and pedal like crazed fools until they say STOP. The team that covers the terrain fastest WINS! $500 1st place prize to boot... as well as free beer and all later on. Jamie and I need to set-up, race, then boogie pretty quick, alas.

It's described as an 8 mile course where they will vary resistance to simulate climbing / flats. Should be fast as hell -I'm hoping under 30 minutes of cross-eyed early season leg opening fun. Our proud Racer-X contingent has a 10am start time - so I plan on getting there around 9am to get set-up and warmed up. It's in Millbury, MA - so you metro Boston RX'ers are right nearby.

Who's in? It's paid for already - so just show up and get ready to throw down.

Pro Deals...

Let me know if you're looking to get geared up for the riding/racing season... Spring is less than a month away!

Sunny and dry out? I'm riding!

What's a little breezy weather?

I nearly wimped out of what turned out to be a great ride this morning. Damned weather forecasters make any weather sound menacing, unforgiving, and somehow hazardous. It was fine outside. The only 'real' wind I encountered was off a big pond / small lake over in Boxford. Otherwise? Perfect mid-winter day for a ride!

Power Data:

Racer-X(c) Skiing

Finally braved my complete lack of XC ski experience and headed out on some skinny skis this fine winter day, courtesy Pete G. (thanks!). Living adjacent to a recently cleared and slowly improving rail trail makes for a perfect beginner-friendly attempt at this sort of adventure. With all the fresh snow recently I hoped there'd be some tracks to follow, and thankfully there was along a lot of the route I headed out on. Super skinny "classic" style XC skis are not the best in deep, fresh powder - but held there own just fine. Much smoother / faster than snowshoes with at least as much 'float'. Now I totally understand the desire to ski on "groomed" XC ski trails, as on my return trip (out and back style run) it took a lot less effort to move a good bit quicker and smoother. A few more runs will pack the track in nicely and make for a speedy workout.

Digital Progress

While my actual riding and training is going slowly, I've put some time in to update the Racer-X presence in the Internet(s). First, as you may have noticed, the Web site has had a few updates, notably some navigation along the top which will allow you to:

• quickly access the BikeReg page to officially update your membership

On One Mary

So I headed out for the maiden voyage on my Surly Pugsley this past weekend. For anyone who doesn't know, it is a bike with huge fat tires ridden at very low pressure. The tires are perfectly designed to ride through snow, sand, mud and pretty much anything else you can think of. For various reasons, the bike has been collecting dust in the garage for 2 winters, but I'm no less enthusiastic about it now that I've given it a proper test ride in the snow. SOOO MUCH FUN!!!
My point for this quick post is to comment on the On One Mary Bar.
It is this ridiculous looking sweeping riser handlebar that makes the bike look like a cruiser. On first glance, I planned to remove it out of sheer embarrassment. But since time did not allow me to get to the task, I rode it as is. You know what? I loved the damn bars!! The snow, I'm sure, makes a difference. I could see that the handling in snowless technical terrain might feel different, but I think I'll even set my pride aside and give them a shot when the snow melts too.

So here's to lookin' cheesy on a bike!

Pfffft, Snowstorm at Night!? That Just Means Racer-X Puts On The Skis. (Except Dave. For him it means cuddly wuddly up wid a big soft bwanket)

I must admit the 45 mph wind gusts were more fun when they were at my back. But no worries either way because I had my X hoodie on. Happy blizzard everyone!!

X-Mas

Why not race with the pro's...?

New England State Championships / first race as a CAT 2 'cross race junkie:

Course map:

I forgot how down-and-out Fitchburg, MA can look in places, as it did on the way to the venue where the first annual New England Regional Cyclocross Championship races were held. The venue itself was fun and quite scenic, and the vibe was anything but down-and-out; a park setting and a course that was fast but took skills as well, complete with a 'crop circle' - or circle of death. Yes - I got dizzy, but no - I did not die! As a CAT2 I was made to race up in the elite group, not with my 2010 peers, in CAT3. This was good. I like pain and suffering - and was excited to try racing with bona-fide pro's. On the start line, I had second thoughts.... Why did that upgrade go through so fast, anyhow...?

Art Imitates Life

 

Here's an OLD comic I found yesterday cleaning out my desk...

Dollars, Donuts and Derailleurs

Ah, the Ice Weasels... I wish more races had the vibe and atmosphere found here in Wrentham. Rowdy crowds, irreverent announcing, crazy barrier prizes, beer hand-ups, and an overall party flavor. New, this year, was mild temperatures, a dry course, and a fly-over.

Similar to last year, at least for me, was a mechanical issue with my bike. Unfortunately, the Fickle Pickle of Fate was not on my side this time around. You see, last year, my pedal broke right in front of the pit area--I had to run about two steps to get my other bike. I was not so lucky this time around.

I had a decent start, felt good, had some gas in the tank, and was optimistic about the race. On my first pass over the barriers, my chain fell off, DESPITE a chain keeper. I ran a little farther to get out of the way to get the chain back on, but, the chain keeper, which should have kept the chain from falling off in the first place was preventing me from sliding it back on. Oh, and a quick look at the back of bike revealed that the chain had already lodged itself securely between the rear cassette and the spokes, and the derailleur was up at an odd angle. My assessment was that the bike was out of commission and I was far away from the pit. So, I started running, all the while riders were passing me until there were no more riders to pass me. I still kept running, er, jogging, um, okay, finally walking. It was a long walk. I got to the pit, switched bikes and headed out.

3 Days later... (ride update)

(Link)
...and I still don't feel 'right'! Cleaned and tuned the mighty 'cross machine and suited up for a sunny - but cold - ride a while ago. It felt great to get out and spin the legs out, at last - but good grief, I'm still sore and underpowered!

Bike is running smooth and snappy - if only I could too. Hope the Racer-(c)X gang has fun out at The Ice Weasels race this weekend - I'm finally taking a 'pass' and sitting this one out in preparation for the following weekends' First Annual New England Regional Championship race - hosted by one of the N.E. 'Cross dynasties - The Goguens. Should be fun, and is just in time to close up 'racing shop' here at the home of Glen's Operations Camp.

Hope everyone else is taking advantage of the unseasonably dry weather and out riding whatever 2-wheeled contraption they prefer! It's been an awesome year, that much I know.

NBX Grand Prix, Warwick RI - Day 2

Implosion - Master 35+ Category Race - Day 2

It's been a few years since I hurt like I did this past Sunday in Warwick, RI. In fact, I haven't been so completely thrashed without waking up in an ambulance (which happened at Snowmass, CO in 2004). The same wicked fast Masters 35+ group lined up - about 50 of us all told, and tried to stay warm on this very windy, very cold morning. I dug deeper than I have all year this blustery fall morning - and paid the price.

NBX Grand Prix, Warwick RI - Day 1

Big Time with the Big Boys - Master 35+ Category Race - Day 1

After some great results in the CAT3 Group - where skill levels range from razor sharp to dull as a doorknob, I threw my hat into the big leagues, where I'll try and stay from now on. In four big races this year, in the CAT3 group - I was in, near, or just behind HUGE pileups. Bone crunching, yard sale style mania. Having accrued enough points to upgrade to CAT2, and not having any points to speak of in the Verge New England Cyclocross Championship Series - I had nothing to lose - and everything to gain - by racing with the smartest, fastest amateurs out there. That is, if you can call retired pro's and silly fast CAT1/2 guys amateurs.

Fourth Time's A Charm? Not Quite.

For some reason I was under the assumption that with more racing, you are supposed to get better. This, rather unfortunately, has not really been the case for me and cyclocross...yet. I still remain hopeful.
On Sunday morning the weather was cold but dry, the bike was tuned, the Racer-X cheering/heckling crew was ready and waiting, but I had apparently forgotten one very important thing...my mojo. From the minute I knew I would be starting at the very back of the pack of 55 girls, I lost the "Eye of the Tiger". I really tried to tune my brain to the station that was playing my suggested theme song, but ALAS, all I could find was a Golden Oldies station...and so the race went.

Verge Series - Sterling Day 2 (for the show)

If you look close - you'll see one X'er (Rob) catching another (Dave)

After a great race on Day 1 of Sterling, part of the Verge New England Cyclocross Championship Series - I was ready to test the legs on this cold morning, Day 2 of the weekend. I've had a good track record of doing a little better on day 2 of 2 day race weekends, but felt old and tired Sunday Morning. Perhaps it's because us amateur CAT3 folks get grouped with the 'elite juniors', like Nate Morse - who train on the heavy hitting C.L. Noonan / Corner Cycle squad - which happens to turn out whole families National Contenders, like the Keoughs! Or perhaps that I'm just old.

Another Sterling Performance

So another race is in the bag. In the history books. In the toy box. In the cheese filled balloon. Or whatever. It was cold, it was early, and it was fun. I felt better than I did last week, but still lacking some oomph. I've ordered some oomph online, but with the holidays, I won't probably won't have it until later this year. Then there's some potential compatibility issues and I'm not sure if I'm going to have to upgrade the whole system. With my performance circling the drain, I've decided to focus on something that I have a bit more control over, and I'm just going to focus on looking good. And damn, I nailed that.

Verge Series - Sterling Day 1 (for the money)

So much for the fabulous crossresults.com rankings - where I've worked through some good results and usually am granted a decent start position... no, not in the Verge Series - where I've not done ANY of the races this year. Mid/back of the pack start position among the hooligans, degenerates, and singlespeeders (just kidding;)) was where I'd be - and would be working VERY hard to catch the elite end of this CAT3 / Junior Expert group. Can't everyone agree on a rankings system? No matter...

Helmet

How do you know when your helmet has done its job? When it's filled with dirt, rocks and grass after a crash. Despite Rob obviously sliding on his head, he still beat me!

Shedd Park - Part III

Jesus Christ on a bicycle.... that hurt. It was cold out, and I was strangely 'off' this past week, never feeling the pep like the week before. No less, family cheering section AND Racer-X crew were both out in full force, so let the game, er - race begin.

Shedd Park-Part Deux

I'm still trying to get a feel for Cyclocross. I thought I pretty much had everything all figured out after my second race...GO HARD. That's it. Just find your pain cave and suffer as much as you possibly can. My opinion on this hasn't really changed much, but I do think there is a bit more strategy involved if you want to place.

SHEDD Park

I'm in there somewhere...

I'm coming back from a miserable race performance two weeks ago at Applecrest Farms, and if I hadn't have thought that I could have done any worse, I was wrong. I lined up at the start of the Master's Cat 1-4 race with nothing in the tank. My brain was writing checks that my legs couldn't cash. I had brought a rubber chicken to a gun fight.

Investigation Cites Illiteracy, Bad Cooking, Possible Lack Of Oversight At Racer-X.

A new self-help book “One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish” has labeled Racer-X athlete Andy Nook both illiterate and a bad cook. When reached for comment the book’s author Dr. Theodor S. Geisel cited doctor/patient confidentiality in refusing to answer questions regarding these explosive allegations. However, anonymous sources claiming to be close to the situation and identifying themselves only as Two Hump Whump and Yink, have relayed what they experienced during Andy’s recent session with Dr. Geisel:

“We took a look. We saw A Nook. On his head he had a hook. On his hook he had a book. On his book was ‘How to Cook.’”

Plymouth Day 2 - CRUSHED IT!

After 3 years of racing 'cross - I finally sprinted to a win. I have not been so worked over, cracked, cramped, ready to puke in a mighty long time. It felt, in a word - sublime. It takes a lot of work, as you all know - to train, balance life, family, work, money, responsibilities for us amateurs - and not that I do it to win, place or show - but shit! What a thrill.

After an OK start, from the back, no less - I started picking guys off, right away. I was going to turn myself inside out to NOT let the 15 year old phenom - Nate (?) get away so easily this fine, cool, cloudy day. After 1/2 a lap, it was him out front, and me - planted on his wheel. We opened up a good gap in the first 2 laps, working together. I had said something like "lets work together and see if we can stick it for the win", and that was the plan. Well, provided I had the gas in the tank and could ride my bike smart...

Plymouth CX - Day 1

Short and *cough* sweet report:

I woke up feeling amazingly crusty - though rested, from a full nights sleep. With wife and kid out of town for the weekend, the house is too damned quiet. But I did sleep. After a crazy week last week, I wound up sick and blowing crap out of my nose these last few days. Funny - I think that happened last time I was about to be left alone! It's some devious plot, I'm sure...

...none the less, I do not have brain cancer or any other serious ailments to complain about - so I ate, hydrated and CAFFEINATED like crazy. Still sore 4 hours after waking up, I popped 2 Vitamin I as well (Advil, if you don't know the catchy lingo). Rolled into Salem, MA a wee bit early, so I headed over to an old favorite, Bagel World - as I needed more coffee, and a fresh bagel with cream cheese. Got 'em, headed over to the King St. residence of fellow CAT2/3/4 group hammer, J-Rock (and roll lately - he's been coming on strong!) and we loaded up the pimpin' Chevy Geo Toyota Corrolla Old Guy Tie Salesman team car with a full quiver of KHS bikes.

(photo from LAST years' Plymouth CX Race)

Weekend Filler: T6 Socks On The Run in Dave's Haunted Forest

As I sat around waiting for the Wicked Ride blog update I glanced over and saw one T6 sock on the floor with some dog hair on it. This was odd because during a break from constantly hitting my refresh button at Racer-X in anticipation of the Wicked Ride update I had just pulled a T6 sock from the dryer. Did they not get washed together?! Can I not trust my eighteen month old kid to properly sort laundry? What happened on the Wicked Ride? Was I misunderstanding it? Was it a Wicket Ride? A Widget Ride? Pure fantasy maybe? Why no update?! WTH?!?!?!?!?!

Apple 'Cross 2010

Ahem. So - never did get that race report up for the MRC race a few weeks ago - but it was an uneventful performance, except that I raced the super-bad-ass 1/2/3 race, which puts the pedal to the metal for a whopping (by 'cross standards - long) 1 hour. Speaking of pedals....

... Well, never mind. A flat tire and a broken pedal made it technical, let's say.

On to better days! Today was perfect cool fall weather. Dry and sunny, but windy and chilly. The race being on an orchard was a treat, so the whole family piled into the car and off we went. In the "what race category should I race in today" internal dialog, I chose the Masters 35+ 1/2/3 race, mainly to race with James and the other older guy hammers.

'Cross Racing Advice

I'm not sure if I should be using this open forum to be giving specific advice to one person, but I feel that perhaps my tips can help anyone racing cyclocross, both newbies and veterans.

MRC 'Cross

As the cyclocross season is in full swing, there can be multiple races every weekend. Stronger riders will race both Saturday and Sunday, while losers like me usually pick one day. This past weekend, I was stuck because I wanted to attend both the race in Portland, ME, my old stomping grounds (as in, I was stomping the books and studying all the time), AND the race in Lancaster, MA. What to do, what to do? Initially, a merry band of fools had planned on racing in Maine, so I figured that would be the day. I pre-registered, then the plan fell apart, and soon I was the only one planning on head downeast. I was thinking about forfeiting my race entry, skipping the solo drive to Maine, and instead doing the closer race in MA, but I was still undecided. Then Mother Nature intervened.

We interrupt this lazy off-season to bring you a cyclocross race.

After the SM100 I was done, cooked, kaput. I wanted to forget about all things bike related and just drink, eat and be merry with fall festivities. My indulgence and gluttony was in full swing when Rob tried his first cyclocross race in Gloucester. At the time, I was totally content to have a beer and cowbell in hand and cheer on from the sidelines. As I watched the race, I could see the pain and anguish in the faces of my fellow teammates as they suffered through the course followed by the unmistakable twinkle in their eyes at the finish and accomplishment of surviving. Then came the post-race camaraderie when they shared war stories and talked about the carnage. I quickly realized...I was jealous.

The Night Weasels Cometh!

Click here, and click NOW to be taken to a wonderful world magic, wonder, romance, intrigue, and of wet, muddy, night weasels. They are like a plague and pestilence, wreaking havoc where-ever they roam. They must be stopped.

2010 Gran Prix Of Gloucester Report

Gran Prix of Gloucester - No Rain / Much Pain!

The 2010 Chapter of the now infamous Gloucester 'Cross Race, aka New England Worlds - is in the books. With slowly building end of season fitness, I signed up the instant registration opened as this one fills up fast. This would be the one weekend I'd lay it all out on the line. My good friend, Rich Siemer - was going to make the trek from Washington, DC to experience the mayhem first-hand. He's an avid Mid-Atlantic CX'er and a very skilled technician. His Ritchey 'Break-Away' bike was awesome - fitting in what looked like a regular suitcase. Racer-X head honcho and event coordinator extraordinaire Dave "yes, why not - I am trying yet another bike/handlebar/accessory set-up for the first time in a monstrous event" Alden-St. Pierre would not only race, but snag a stellar tent & crew spot on the start/finish line next to the Factory Cannondale guys. He'd also assume duties in the cheer, wrench, shoot, video document, and heckle the rest of us section! I mention these two guys up front for good reason; they both play / have played a pivotal role in my cycling meandering and evolution (if one can call it that). The other character in this plot - besides the assorted Racer-X hooligans, is the other New Mexico CX transplant - Jamie Ryan-White.

Gloucester

So as earlier mentioned David had talked a few us into trying our hand at cross racing. First off, thanks Dave! One for talking me into it even when I swore I would never race cross, and two for setting up the Racer-X tent where we could all use the central location to house our goods, etc..... You put a lot of work into these events for all of us and I wanted to point that out. This is the face that Dave would give if you try to thank him!

"If I get just one person hooked on
cross.... thats all the thanks I need"

So normally I write in my blog more about diabetes management, as that is really my focus. I have come to terms that for the most part I am the 'middle of the pack sport guy', and that is ok. My goals are all focused around managing my diabetes on the bike and in general. That being said, cross racing was going to introduce a whole new set of challenges for me.

GP Gloucester 2010

I started my 2010 Campaign for Cyclocross Mediocrity this past Saturday at the Gran Prix of Gloucester, one of the largest ‘cross races in New England.

It’s one of those races that limits the individual race categories to 125 racers, and they sell out, with riders on a wait list. It’s one of those races that has riders in the lowest category (what should be analogous to “beginner”) traveling hundreds of miles to race on their bikes worth thousands of dollars.