Fun With Numbers 2010/105/220

I admit I've been sort of lost these past months without any particular plan to follow or event to prepare for. But some invaluable lessons have been learned along the way, namely; never give up what you love and certainly never agree to sell a bike for appliances! In any case, I am definitely looking forward to putting that all behind me and getting back on track and in MY groove again.

The Last Day of Base

Thanks to the help of Michele and Clara I managed to complete my last base ride today - four and a half hours in the wind. Although I have been disciplined about riding the trainer this winter and hoped it would eventually pay off, this weekend makes me wonder just where my fitness is. The problem is there's no headwind in my livingroom when I am on the trainer, so I suppose I shouldn't be all that surprised at how much harder it feels when you're riding in the elements. In any case, I am looking forward to watching the Tour of California and enjoying a rest week.

Valentine's Day: Our First 2009 Team Ride

(L-to-R: Sam, Susanne, Clara, Brooke, Rebecca, and Natalie)

Saturday we met at Brooke's for our first team ride and an opportunity to discuss the 2009 race schedule.

The Gloucester Grand Prix: Take Me To The Beer Tent!

As I explained to Cathy Rowell, half seriously, half jokingly...I am beginning to come to terms with why I suck at cx. My level of aggression, on a 10 point scale, is like a 2..."would you like to go ahead? Oh, by all means, please do"...to me, this weekend more closely resembled chinese downhill rather than a cx race...apparently you need to be prepared to ride around, over, and sometimes through your opponents....and etiquette?...there is no etiquette...it's a smash and grab...bull in a china shop...type of affair....I guess I was just a little dismayed by the level of aggression and amount of full-contact...I guess surfing the pavement a few too many times this year has taken it's toll...I am just a little more cautious...a little more hesitant...and you just can't race cross like that. It has to be, as my teammates would say, "racks to the max."

Ok, so preface aside...here's the Saturday race report:

With a grand total of exactly (drum roll please)...zero UCI points, I lined up in the third row. Got a decent start as we sprinted up the hill. As we transitioned to the first winding grass section little did I know the chinese downhill was about to begin - complete with full contact. Apparently I have been taking this cross stuff entirely too lightly. The thought had occurred to me "maybe a pre-race meal of raw meat would be better than a gu?" In any case, 3/4th of the way through the first lap a certain rider in a plaid kit would go down in front of me. I basically rode over her (unintentionally). That is, until our bikes became entangled (which I am sure amused the many spectators sitting high above on the big rock.) I then watched (perhaps too calmly) as she helter skelter gasping for breath tried to literally rip our bikes apart! As she hastily remounted (at this point, practically hyperventilating) she nearly took us out AGAIN!

Concerned with my bike and annoyed with the unnecessary roughness I was of the mindset "you wanna go...by all means, please GO!...just get away from me!" Mentally that was pretty much the end of my race as I eventually DNF'd. The highlight of my day was riding the sand pit...which I later realized would have been smarter (and faster) to run (doh)!

Sunday I enjoyed spectating from the beer tent! (Special thanks to Sal and the fine service of Tami!) But not nearly in as much style as Cathy Rowell!!! Check out the Lederhosen!

Calgone Take Me Away!

This was an email sent to a close friend, but I thought it was worth posting since it's an accurate account of the state of things at the moment.

Calgone take me away...
What's happening to me...?
As Gloucester approaches the inevitable seems to be happening all over again...
I think I have developed an allergy to cross...one minute everything is fine and the next I've had it...ready to hang up the bike...why, why, why...? Like clockwork it's happening again...same week, different year.

Arggghhh...I couldn't have been less interested in cx practice tonight...
I'm tired all the time...(I sit all day, how can this be?)
And, worse...I am hungry all the time...
What is wrong with me.....???

PS I submitted an offer on a condo in my bldg - there was a higher offer...I think the universe is trying to tell me something...but it seems to be in some type of code I can't decipher...

Green Mountain CX - Verge Series 1 & 2

Sue Fred, "the Major", and I

Looks peaceful (looks can be deceiving.)

Up and over the whoop-dee-doo!


Running the barriers or catapulting over!

Leaping over the barrier in a single bound (in theory anyways!)
Ok, not exactly faster than a speeding bullet either...but hey...I'm working on it.

Portsmouth Crit

I suppose it was fitting to end this road season crashing in the last corner of the last crit!