Help a Newbie Out

About a year ago I was in a position that a lot of burgeoning cross racers find themselves in now. I hadn’t been in a cross race, but had already been bitten by the bug. After volunteering at a local race and meeting a few of the folks that make up the Mid-Atlantic cross community, I was hooked. I spent a good bit of time reading through anything I could find on the net related to cross (since I hadn’t found CXM yet) and tried to incorporate all the skills and techniques involved. After convincing my wife that, yes, I needed ANOTHER bike, I thought I was ready.

Innocently, or ignorantly, I signed up for my first race. Granogue, Queen of the MAC Series, held in early October. I went from feeling ready to hanging on for dear life as I watched the leaders power away before I had even started. I rode on what I thought were properly inflated tires, but bounced around the course like I was riding on a pogo stick. I missed a turn and ended up in the woods, tangled in an extension cord. And I finished just about DFL, but it was an experience that I will not forget.

After some recovery activities, like remembering my name and how to get home, I started to look deeper into the world of cross. Reading everything I could, I settled in and resigned myself to using this season as a learning experience. Following one of the first pieces of standard advice given to most newbies, I managed to gain entry into a local training group. Members of which, after watching my teeth chatter for half of my first practice, finally gave me a lesson in proper tire pressure. I rode the next lap feeling like I was going to slide out as my tires flexed in every turn. But I had learned the first of many valuable lessons.

As I look at starting the next season of cross, I look back and I’m amazed at how much I have learned. Through connections with other riders and racers, both personal through the community and virtual over the web, I have already established relationships that will serve me well in the future as I develop as a crosser. I have learned the benefits of lower tire pressure, improved my bike handling and now approach corners at speed knowing that if my brakes are squealing, I’m working too hard at slowing down.

Looking back though, I realize there were a few lessons that no one shared with me. There is the standard advice, ride as much as possible, practice mounts and dismounts find a group to train with and LISTEN to them. But there are other things that I have learned. Things that no one told me, things that at the time I didn’t even realize I was doing or needed to do. After only two and a half races, I still consider myself a newbie. But even I can pass along a lesson or two that may help those just starting out.

Learning the limits of your gear can be painful, but necessary. Now, I’m not talking about how much abuse your equipment can take before it breaks. It’s more about how far you can push those tires in the corner and just how hard can you land on that particular saddle before you realize it may not be the best choice after all. And more than anything it’s about having the confidence to see how far your ride can take you. Diving into corners harder than I thought I could has, much to the entertainment of my training group, resulted in a few less than graceful dismounts. But it has also rewarded me with smoother lines and faster exits.

Riding in the drops on the road is a powerful aerodynamic position. Feeling comfortable in that position while speeding over grass and rocks or tearing through singletrack, takes a whole different level of confidence. But being there is an aggressive position that can improve handling and give you better access to your controls.

Learn to be comfortable moving hand positions at speed in rough terrain. Moving from the drops to the hoods or tops and back seems like an easy thing to do. But developing the speed and confidence to accomplish that simple transition while speeding over rough ground toward the next set of barriers, takes a little rehearsal.

Find a group with a regular practice. Yes, this is the standard advice I was trying to steer clear of here, but the value of this cannot be over-emphasized. Cross is a sport where there is no substitute for experience. Ride with more experienced riders and you will see improvements. Fitness gains from chasing faster, smoother riders around courses. Advice on equipment and technique from seasoned veterans are instant and free upgrades.

Cross is a rough sport. You’re going to hit the ground, maybe a barrier or two, and you’ll probably have to bail half-way up that slope that others had the good sense to walk up. Make your first mistakes early, preferably in practice and not in front of the spectators. Your new friends may heckle just as much, but there will be probably be some instruction in there somewhere.

Now, I don’t expect this to come across as the wisdom of the ages. It’s simply the lessons learned that I hope may help another newbie or two over their first barrier. But more than that, it is meant as a challenge to get you thinking. I’m sure there is a lot of good advice out there. Let’s hear it.

Race Coverage

Covering a race for a magazine is a blast. It forced me to go way beyond my social comfort zone, but it was really cool to meet and hang out with the other racers that came out for Spectacross.

Haven't had a chance to put together my race report yet, but I will. Got some photos to go along with this and wrote a report of the second day.

Published Again

Another article posted on Cx Magazine.

Place Your Bets.

As I sit here and watch the first week of the 2009 Tour, there is one persistent question running through my head.

Who is gonna get busted this year? Who's the doper that noone suspects?

OK, so that's two questions. But chances are, if you can name past winners other than Lance, you've had questions of the same vein run through your mind. Some would call it cynical, but in some ways it's realistic. Ricco. Rasmussen. Kohl. And the list goes on. In RBA this month, Bobke put together a list of 15. Busted during or shortly after they basked in the glow of podium finishes and unbelievable performances.

I'm not talking about a debate of who's guilty and who's not. This isn't about that. This is something more visceral, something that affects the very foundation that fans like me have built our love of this sport on. We've seen heroes fall in the heat of battle and that in some ways only increases our respect for them. But to see one of our idols brought down because they CHOSE to cheat, is something very different. Not only does it take away the enjoyment we have gotten from watching that rider succeed, it shakes the faith that we have in our sport.

Menchov is obviously not having the Tour that he had hoped for. But you have to respect the man who keeps coming back. The man who can fall in the final turn of the final stage of thsi years Giro, remain calm and then explode in uncharacterstic emotion at the finish. I'm not really a fan of Menchov, but I do respect the competitor that can handle that. The emotion that was so surprising coming from such a stoic rider, was likely echoed by fans all over the world. And it's that type of effort in the face of failure that deserves such support.

I have to admit that watching Ricardo Ricco being walked out of his hotel for questioning almost turned me off to the tour. After Landis, which I have different opinions about that you may read about here at some point, Vino, which I hated so much I almost felt personally betrayed, and all the others through Puerto in 2005 and 2006, I'd had enough. How could I continue to watch a sport and invest my heart and passion into something false?

But, and if you're still with me here I thank you cause here's the point to all this, I think a new era is emerging. There are some holdovers and questions from the past. I mean, I have no respect for Basso after his whole "I only planned to cheat" spiel. And I have no idea why Vino seems so entitled to come back, especially since his plan violates UCI rules. But there is a new environment around the Tour. I can't explain it, but something has changed.

Garmin and Columbia. Saxo Bank and Cervelo. These are teams that I think I can get behind again. Vandevelde is likely an outside shot at the podium, and I'm not sure he's got a win in his legs. Cadel, twice a bridesmaid, is probably a better shot for victory, though he probably needs a little more support. And I would love to see Levi on the podium, unlikely as it may be given the team leaders lined up in front of him.

But these are the guys I can have faith in. Not so much because of how they have succeeded, but because of how they have recovered when they have failed. Vandevelde cracked how many bones in that Giro crash? Even lining up makes him a tough man, but he's hanging with the leaders so far. Cadel seems to be racing this year's tour with a new attitude. No longer content to let the race unfold in front of him, he has already shown himself at an antagonist. He just needs to work on his timing. And Levi, well he always seem to have that one bad day. It may take him out of the GC picture now and then, but you'd never know based on the intensity he continues on with.

I'm not dwelling on the past anymore. I'm looking at the news each day to see how everyone fared on the stage, not if they made it through the drug test afterwards. I just hope it can continue.

Life is a Highway

or maybe rollercoaster is more like it. Been a lot of ups and downs lately, though most of them are contained within my own head as usual. Thinking I may have to up the meds again.

I have absolutely no patience left for my boss. My most productive hours right now occur not because of the leadership I report to, but rather in spite of it. He seems to have some type of personal vendetta against his boss, which I don't really understand. My boss's boss (this is touch without spelling out to the world who I'm irritated with) seems like a good enough person. He has rewarded my efforts with honest praise and opportunities for new projects and challenges. I don't understand the issues that exist between these two, but I am caught squarely in the middle of it. And frankly, I've just had enough.

There is also the ongoing saga of my wife and her funemployment. We have limped through a year of it, but one way or another it is coming to an end soon. We are both pursuing avenues that we haven't really gone down before. So something will work out.

Published!

I've been doing some basic web stuff and writing for Cyclocross Magazine. Sat down to write a blog post last night, but for some reason decided to send it to the mag to see if there was an interest.

Apparently, there was.

A Good Day

I had one of those rides yesterday. No, it wasn’t a cross ride, but in my defense, for a road ride it involved more than the usual number of obstacles, bunnyhops, even spectators it seemed. It was one of those rides that doesn’t start out unusual. Decent weather, good company and that little extra snap in the legs right from the start. But somewhere along the route the stars align and you reach that place that is difficult to define.

There was nothing extraordinary about the ride we set out on. Just a preview of a road course for the race my father’s club promotes every year. Something we have done innumerable times in the past. But each year the road conditions seem to deteriorate a little more, hence the need to preview the course, just in case.

Tearing through the course I stole glances at the computer, continually pleased with the numbers I was seeing. I shouldn’t be going this fast this early, feeling this well. Good signs.

Coming back through the last stoplight, I came to a stop and it just dawned on me. This is why I ride. The tough rides that show you’re in better shape than you thought. That all those trainer sessions in the basement were worth the boredom. Watching cycling DVDs so many times you begin playing them back in your head as you try and fall asleep. It all has a purpose.

We do all of that because we are chasing the perfect day. It may be that we hope for all this to come together on a race day. But we can’t control the intangibles. We just have to hope we recognize it when we see it. When we see clearly how lucky we are to have the ability to chase these perfect days. Appreciate the moment that you realize that it’s one of those days, because you never know how long it will be till you find it again.

Busy, Busy, Busy...

There has been a lot going on the last month. First race of the season (and I didn't finish last!). Just registered for the second.

Working with these guys is proving to be an experience. We'll see how it goes. Working on the text for my first attempt at an article, hopefully they won't laugh too hard at my finished product. Been e-mailing people from several states and two continents trying to pull somethings together.

Working with the club on this. And of course still working on the club website and the uniform order.

Grandmother is in a decline and we're headed out tomorrow to go see her. She's apparently gotten a lot worse since I saw her a few days ago.

And of course there's this other thing. Cause I don't have enough to do.

And I don't feel like I can anything done anywhere for anyone. Just a rough time right now. But there are some lights on the horizon, bright spots at the end of the tunnel.

Hopefully it doesn't end up being the train.

I need to get better about this....

There really is no excuse that I haven't posted in two weeks. It hasn't been for lack of thinking about blogging, does that count? There has been a lot of thought about this but it never felt like I had a good enough subject.

Which brings up the true question. What is my motivation? Am I doing this for me or for others? Do I really expect other people to read this? Or am I doing this as a record of how well the medication is working? No idea really. Just something I think about from time to time.

Slacking Again

Just realized how long it has been since the last post. Too long. Not for lacking of thinking about posting, or lack of ideas, just lack of motivation and general direction. Still searching for a path forward for the family, but taking steps in the right direction.

Simple distractions have become long-term excuses for ignoring the obvious and denying that a solution exists. But steps are being taken and a compass heading is being pulled from the fog that has been enveloping us for awhile now.

The bike is being ridden, races are being planned. The season is starting to take shape, in an early form, and the rest will sort itself out. I just have to remember to have faith in myself and those around me.

And to get off my ass and do something.

Silver Linings

I've been sick for the last three days. The four year old has been sick for the last two. Though he had it worst.

Sears will be here Tuesday for a repair appointment sometime 8 AM and 5 PM (HOW IS THAT AN APPOINTMENT?!). But, I'm going to have a working washer at the end of the day and the knowledge that I could have fixed it. And won't risk the wrath of my wife because the laundry is spreading out of the bedrooms and down the stairs.

I have to drive two hours with the whole family to a birthday party at Gymboree! tomorrow. But it will be cool to see Liz and Scott and maybe get some Wii time.

My boss is the oldest infant I have ever met. How many people complain that there is no reason to have someone checking up on them, then make things more difficult for everyone out of spite? At almost 70 (yes, seventy) years old he should know better. Thankfully there are many other sane people...OK maybe sane isn't right. We're all just screwed up in a way that allows us to work well together. But they, and some of the work we do, make it worthwhile.

And the big one. I haven't been able to work out much this week. But I feel guilty about it for the first time in weeks. The gauge is finally starting to tip to motivated.

And I hate being on drugs. I didn;t seek help with my anxiety for a long time, and now I don't know why. I guess I was afraid that they would change who I was, make me someone artificial. But now I see, that that decision may have just made me who I should have been all along.

And if nothing else, the drugs have really made me see that there usually is a silver lining. Even if you have to make it up yourself.

Not Just A Cyclist

So cycling is a huge part of my life. I love the rides, races, the people, just the whole feeling. It's a little cliche to say that if I have to explain it, you wouldn't understand, but for the sport of cycling and even moreso cyclocross, it's never seemed more true.

But over the last few months I have begun to develop a new obsession. Beer. Not just any beer. And really, not just beer. Brewing. Homebrewing. It's really cool. Like cooking but you get beer. I'm just diving into this hobby, but already it has been fun and rewarding. The first batch is gone and the second is a few weeks from being ready. The Belgian Wit that we have finished off, was one of the most drinkable beers I have ever had. Fresh, good notes of orange peel and coriander. Nothing extraordinary by most means I'm, but good nonetheless. And the wife enjoyed it. She liked drinking it, enjoyed the taste and even helped in the bottling process. And she's allowing me to ferment the next batch, a Bavarian Dunkelweizen, in the kitchen.

The thing that strikes me about this new hobby is the similarities to my other obsession. The community is wonderful. Cooperative, supportive and encouraging. Sharing recipes and information is a given and the patience some of the people on Home Brew Talkshow for newbies is amazing.

I finally have something to obsess over between races.

2008 and 2009

So, I've been cruising around the usual blogs and have seen the typical "Best of" and such. 2008 has been an interesting year for me. Obviously the best thing to happen to me was this little gift....



And Caitlin, being the best thing that came into my life, and my son and wife being the best things that we're already a part of my life, I am left to contemplate other things.

There have been some major changes for me and within me this year. While the most life-changing moments involved doctor's appointments, discussions with my wife and several prescriptions, cause uncontrollable anxiety is just a cruel bitch to live with, I choose to ignore these for the purposes of this discussion. I started this blog almost a year ago to help move past those issues, not to dwell on them.

So, childbirth, family and medication aside, I have chosen the most lifechanging moment of my 2008.

It's an event that seemed to both transcend description and yet not be worthy of mention. Something I wanted to scream from the highest cliff and at the same time keep to myself lest too many others discover it and make it their own.

OK, this post has taken way to seriuos a turn. Serious enough as to go against the very nature of the activity I am describing.

Cyclocross. Exquisitely painful. Wonderfully damaging. Inspirational and exhausting. It has both helped me find my limits and expand my horizons.

It started with an idea about this time last year. Just pick up a frame. Club discounts were announced. E-mails were sent. Debates were undertaken. I annoyed people that I had never even met.

And I brought home the first new baby of this year:



And it began. The slow dressing of the new addition. Spoiled with an brand new Ultegra SL drivetrain, FSA Carbon Bars, Mavic Ksryiums and random parts from other steeds, it began to take shape. It was ridden a few times, played with really, as I didn't know what was waiting for me.

Then it was raced. Granogue. Queen of the MAC.

I could use a lot of cliches and sappy terms to describe what I felt and what I went through, but I would fail in my quest to relate what cross is. Cross is to be experienced not described. The only words I can think to write is that cross is simple. You either get it or you don't.

I thought I knew what I was getting into. I thought I had figured out what cross was. I was wrong. Cross isn't a bike race. Cross is a community. Cross is a lifestyle. And the race was only the beginning. Only a taste.

The real fun began when I found the DCCofD. There's nothing official here, it's just a group of crossers. Pulled from other formal clubs and teams into a loose meeting of likeminded folks. My contact began as a request to join an e-mail list. It was obvious from the start that this group was different.

I've joined other lists. Send a request and you're a member. Not this time. There was more to this one. It was intriguing and intimidating at the same time. I knew some of these rders by face and reputation, even if I hadn't met them. They were real riders, real racers. And I well, I wasn't.

But I was welcomed by this guy. Come out to a practice or two, volunteer at the upcoming race and we'll see. So I drove over an hour to a middle school in Wilmington. And I rode with the DCCofD. And I sucked, completely and totally.

Now, I'll diverge a little here. It's obvious at this point that I have issues. Real issues. And social situations, well, let's just say they don't usually bring out the best in me. And that, as much as the riding is why I was encouraged by my wonderful and supportive wife to do this. In reality, she all but physically threw me out the door to go to the practice.

But I was welcomed. I was introduced. And I was dropped. I almost got lapped in a two lap effort. I was left behind by a rider with a broken ankle. But I was there.

And then I started getting advice. Real, helpful honest advice. Tire pressure, body position, I truly felt welcomed. At the end of the first practice, I was welcomed and I was added to the e-mail list. An odd thing to be proud of, I know, but I have to take what I can get when it comes to personal achievement.

I came back for more week after week. And then it happened. They made fun of me. They laughed. And at that point I knew, that I had found where I belonged.

New Year

There are a lot of thoughts running through my head this morning as I contemplate the new year. Will we be able to get settled at some point this year? Will my wife find her direction? Can I really get off my ass to work towards a bike season that is still eight months away?

All remains to be seen. All remains shrouded at this moment. I've learned a lot about life over the last year. I think I've finally learned what's important. I've learned to relax (OK, that's due mostly to prescriptions, but, whatever, I'm relaxed). I've learned to take moments to play with the kids, because those moments will never be here again. I've learned how much parents can really love and support their kids. And I hope to apply that to my children.

I'm looking forward to the new year with a positive forward view that I don't think I've had in a long time, if ever. I look forward to reconnecting with my wife. I look forward to the new adventures that being a father of two will undoubtedly hold. I look forward to losing weight and gaining fitness.

I'm looking forward to using my new (to me) Computrainer. My father has done it again, surprising me at one of my low moments with an unexpected motivation to train and improve. And this thing ROCKS! Still working out a detail or two on the setup, but it is really cool. This will change everything. If I let it. If I can work it. If I can get off my ass and onto the bike.

God help us all as we face the new year, and man's greatest obstacle to self-improvement:

Self.