Last weekend brought another good race. The result wasn’t so hot but I was aggressive early and tried to make something happen again in the closing laps. Nothing quite came together but my efforts were not wasted since it allowed my teammates to sit back and have a free ride. They both came through and finished in the money. The fitness is still on the rise and I feel like every race I’ve done has been better than the last. I’m constantly learning the new game and the team is starting to ride better together.
I’m trying to keep the boring race news to a minimum. The other positive of the week was getting the new ride. Yes, finally, it’s here. A big thanks to Jonathan Kane for spending his entire Friday afternoon helping me put it together in time for the weekend. Initial reactions are good. It’s super stiff and still manages to soak up the road. With the current set up it’s pure race. I’ll try to get some pictures the weekend since everything is finally together. I also had a pro moment as I was gluing up the tubulars. I haven’t ridden them yet though. So this weekend I’ll be rolling deep. State crit champs are on tap but it’s time for a road race already. A trip to some hills is also in order.
Wait, one more thing. The latest press release from Team Mountain Khakis is out. You can see it here. I’ll have to admit, it’s pretty cool going to a site that’s been on my favorites list for a couple years and seeing something I wrote. Not that it’s really an amazing achievement, but it feels good. Now back to resting. I leave you with a quote.
“Now remember, things look bad and it looks like you're not gonna make it, then you gotta get mean. I mean plumb, mad-dog mean. 'Cause if you lose your head and you give up then you neither live nor win. That's just the way it is.”
-The Outlaw Josey Wales
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Monday, May 11, 2009
My Mind Is Racing
As I sit here enjoying a coffee and watching the rain come in, the world around me remains unusually serene. However, my mind is moving at a different pace.
I am approaching a time when I need to start making decisions about what’s next. My lease here in Chapel Hill ends after July and I need to start thinking about what’s next. The problem lies in the fact that I don’t know what my riding situation is going to be next season. That largely depends on how I ride in months of June and July. I am going to several big races then and I need to get some results if I want to take another step up. So I’m in a situation where I can’t really make any solid decisions. I need to focus on riding well and getting some results. Then I can reassess my situation and go from there. In the meantime, all I can do is go over multiple scenarios in my head, over and over. The only thing I know for sure is that I want to keep racing my bike and trying to make the dream of being pro a reality. I harbor no illusions of winning everything for the rest of the season and signing a huge contract for next year. I know it’s not going to come easy. I’m going to have to continue to struggle on with that one goal in mind and the decisions I make need to reflect that commitment. As I buckle up the shoes once again I cannot help but imagine where I’ll be doing the very same thing next year. What team will it be for? Will I be in the U.S.? For now I can’t dwell on those things. I can only give 110% and have faith that it will get me where I want to go.
Giving 110% has not been a problem. At the beginning of the year I wondered how I would feel at this point in the season. Would the struggles of working to pay bills, training and racing take their toll on my motivation to continue? Would that early season hunger for success begin to fade? I can say with certainty that it has not. I’m more motivated than ever to continue to fight. It hasn’t been easy. Sometimes it seems like I never get a break. After working and training all week I spend the weekend in the car traveling to and from races. Then I wake up on Monday and it starts over. Somehow quitting never enters my mind. When I do wake up on Monday all I can think about is the next race and what I need to do to become a better bike racer. It’s a consuming lifestyle, but one that I love and hope to continue.
I am approaching a time when I need to start making decisions about what’s next. My lease here in Chapel Hill ends after July and I need to start thinking about what’s next. The problem lies in the fact that I don’t know what my riding situation is going to be next season. That largely depends on how I ride in months of June and July. I am going to several big races then and I need to get some results if I want to take another step up. So I’m in a situation where I can’t really make any solid decisions. I need to focus on riding well and getting some results. Then I can reassess my situation and go from there. In the meantime, all I can do is go over multiple scenarios in my head, over and over. The only thing I know for sure is that I want to keep racing my bike and trying to make the dream of being pro a reality. I harbor no illusions of winning everything for the rest of the season and signing a huge contract for next year. I know it’s not going to come easy. I’m going to have to continue to struggle on with that one goal in mind and the decisions I make need to reflect that commitment. As I buckle up the shoes once again I cannot help but imagine where I’ll be doing the very same thing next year. What team will it be for? Will I be in the U.S.? For now I can’t dwell on those things. I can only give 110% and have faith that it will get me where I want to go.
Giving 110% has not been a problem. At the beginning of the year I wondered how I would feel at this point in the season. Would the struggles of working to pay bills, training and racing take their toll on my motivation to continue? Would that early season hunger for success begin to fade? I can say with certainty that it has not. I’m more motivated than ever to continue to fight. It hasn’t been easy. Sometimes it seems like I never get a break. After working and training all week I spend the weekend in the car traveling to and from races. Then I wake up on Monday and it starts over. Somehow quitting never enters my mind. When I do wake up on Monday all I can think about is the next race and what I need to do to become a better bike racer. It’s a consuming lifestyle, but one that I love and hope to continue.
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Catch Up
It’s been a while. The past couple weeks have been good. A few more races are in the bag and I’m pleased with the progression. The fitness is still coming along nicely and there’s no evidence of it slowing down. I’m putting up good numbers in training and I’m racing better and better every weekend. I’m starting to get really excited about June and July. There’s going to be a lot of travel and racing and it’s going to be the culmination of all the hard work this year.
The team is finally cranking things up and we’re starting to get into the flow. Hopefully we can gel quickly and start getting results. I’ve also just heard that the new bike frame should be in my hands this week so we can start looking the part as well.
I guess the big revelation since my last post occurred Friday night at the pro race in Spartanburg. It was part of the USA Crits Speedweek Series so most of the big teams had squads there. My teammate and I decided to do the Category 2/3 race in an effort to get a result instead of just trying to finish the pro race but we stayed and watched the heavy hitters slug it out. The entire time I was watching there was only one emotion, and it was the desire to be out there racing. It was one of those moments that reminds me what I’m working for and reassures me that I made the right decision to put the career on hold to pursue such a lofty goal. I wanted to be out there so bad, it was killing me. The speed, the power, the suffering, the sacrifice it took for those guys to get to where they are. Bike racing is such an amazing and beautiful thing. Magnifique.
And oh yes, don’t worry, the new French Press arrived.
The team is finally cranking things up and we’re starting to get into the flow. Hopefully we can gel quickly and start getting results. I’ve also just heard that the new bike frame should be in my hands this week so we can start looking the part as well.
I guess the big revelation since my last post occurred Friday night at the pro race in Spartanburg. It was part of the USA Crits Speedweek Series so most of the big teams had squads there. My teammate and I decided to do the Category 2/3 race in an effort to get a result instead of just trying to finish the pro race but we stayed and watched the heavy hitters slug it out. The entire time I was watching there was only one emotion, and it was the desire to be out there racing. It was one of those moments that reminds me what I’m working for and reassures me that I made the right decision to put the career on hold to pursue such a lofty goal. I wanted to be out there so bad, it was killing me. The speed, the power, the suffering, the sacrifice it took for those guys to get to where they are. Bike racing is such an amazing and beautiful thing. Magnifique.
And oh yes, don’t worry, the new French Press arrived.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
My Heart is in Pieces
I felt like it was time for another post, but what about? The Theo Bos incident, over done already. How annoying twitter is quickly becoming, too many negative waves. Where my new frame is, enough is enough. How training is going, too serious and boring.
The story of the week is instead my shattered heart, or rather my shattered French press because they one in the same. The sound of that horrendous moment will haunt my dreams forever. I imagine the last few days of my life have been a lot like drifting endlessly in a lifeboat on the open ocean. There is nothing that can quench my desire for that sweet nectar. The first rule of survival, keep a cool head. I immediately ordered a new one and every time I come home my eyes lock on the doorstep. Ahh, it will be here soon and such I glorious moment I can only imagine. Ok, maybe I exaggerate. Nah, this is for serious.
I did get a lift a minute ago when I checked the weather. It’s full on shorts time and it’s going to be hard not to ride all day long. I’m also syked about tomorrow. I get to have one of my ideal days. No work equals key breakfast, coffee (maybe tomorrow’s the day it arrives), cycling videos, loud music and hard riding. Then I get to chill and recover, a nap perhaps. Man, I wish there was a way I could do that every day. Wait, isn’t that called a professional cyclist?
The story of the week is instead my shattered heart, or rather my shattered French press because they one in the same. The sound of that horrendous moment will haunt my dreams forever. I imagine the last few days of my life have been a lot like drifting endlessly in a lifeboat on the open ocean. There is nothing that can quench my desire for that sweet nectar. The first rule of survival, keep a cool head. I immediately ordered a new one and every time I come home my eyes lock on the doorstep. Ahh, it will be here soon and such I glorious moment I can only imagine. Ok, maybe I exaggerate. Nah, this is for serious.
I did get a lift a minute ago when I checked the weather. It’s full on shorts time and it’s going to be hard not to ride all day long. I’m also syked about tomorrow. I get to have one of my ideal days. No work equals key breakfast, coffee (maybe tomorrow’s the day it arrives), cycling videos, loud music and hard riding. Then I get to chill and recover, a nap perhaps. Man, I wish there was a way I could do that every day. Wait, isn’t that called a professional cyclist?
Saturday, April 18, 2009
It Hurts When I Ride Hard
So it’s been a while. Sorry for the white noise but my computer went haywire this week and it took some doing to get it fixed. Anyway, I’m sitting here in Charleston, SC icing my back and drinking a decaf Americana in the hotel room and thought it was a good time for a post.
The back is not so hot. I pulled something or pinched a nerve last weekend and could barely stand up on Monday. I was able to ride and it got better every day but the races today were just too much. Carrying tile up a flight of stairs all week probably didn’t help either but it did pay some bills and those are the breaks right now. Thirty minutes into the pro-am my back was screaming and the remaining 45 minutes were not looking too appealing. I suffered through it before it finally called no more with just two corners left. I was a bit heartbroken since my legs felt great today. The new workouts Zach has me doing are already paying off. If this is me after a week and half with Zack I can’t wait to see the results in a couple months. Say, at Fitchburg maybe? I went from getting dropped in 20 minutes at Rock Hill to being in the top 15 with two laps to go today and still having legs, just no back. It was a similar field to Rock Hill with some very legit riders so I was happy with my ride. I also started the 2/3 race but I was a spent force and didn’t feel like pushing the back any more than I had to so I pulled out after about 15 minutes.
Gear Review: My taint and new Fizik Arione CX saddle are becoming quick friends. My iAero says I gained 100 ft. in elevation while riding in circles today. My headset is so loose it rattles around. Not so fun cornering at 30 mph. Where is my new bike for real? Oh, and all my new Defeet socks are way too hot.
Random hotel boredom rendered this gem, match.com on HGH, our world is awesome. On the music front, this week’s theme was decidedly country. The Zac Brown Band- Whatever It Is, Dwight Yoakam- Close Up the Honky Tonks, Dwight Yoakam and Allison Krauss- If I Were A Carpenter, Taylor Swift- White Horse (I’m half German, half Scots-Irish and one sixth 15-year-old girl)
Well, the Americana is almost gone. I think The Office and then sleep. Ciao.
The back is not so hot. I pulled something or pinched a nerve last weekend and could barely stand up on Monday. I was able to ride and it got better every day but the races today were just too much. Carrying tile up a flight of stairs all week probably didn’t help either but it did pay some bills and those are the breaks right now. Thirty minutes into the pro-am my back was screaming and the remaining 45 minutes were not looking too appealing. I suffered through it before it finally called no more with just two corners left. I was a bit heartbroken since my legs felt great today. The new workouts Zach has me doing are already paying off. If this is me after a week and half with Zack I can’t wait to see the results in a couple months. Say, at Fitchburg maybe? I went from getting dropped in 20 minutes at Rock Hill to being in the top 15 with two laps to go today and still having legs, just no back. It was a similar field to Rock Hill with some very legit riders so I was happy with my ride. I also started the 2/3 race but I was a spent force and didn’t feel like pushing the back any more than I had to so I pulled out after about 15 minutes.
Gear Review: My taint and new Fizik Arione CX saddle are becoming quick friends. My iAero says I gained 100 ft. in elevation while riding in circles today. My headset is so loose it rattles around. Not so fun cornering at 30 mph. Where is my new bike for real? Oh, and all my new Defeet socks are way too hot.
Random hotel boredom rendered this gem, match.com on HGH, our world is awesome. On the music front, this week’s theme was decidedly country. The Zac Brown Band- Whatever It Is, Dwight Yoakam- Close Up the Honky Tonks, Dwight Yoakam and Allison Krauss- If I Were A Carpenter, Taylor Swift- White Horse (I’m half German, half Scots-Irish and one sixth 15-year-old girl)
Well, the Americana is almost gone. I think The Office and then sleep. Ciao.
Sunday, April 12, 2009
The Busiest “Off” Week Ever
With no races this weekend I had been looking forward to an easy week. However, my life had other plans. Monday was spent working and then fixing my computer and getting my iAero operational which took until about 11:00pm. And oh, the iAero was no where near operational. Tuesday was more of the same with work and trying to figure out the iAero. Wednesday was spent at a teammate’s house building a fence prior to picking up my mom and little brother at the airport. They’re in town for a little visit and it’s always nice to have them around.
With no work on Thursday and Friday I was looking forward to some good riding and getting the ball rolling with my new coach, Zach Lail. I was also super pumped since my brothers were going backpacking at Stone Mountain and needed someone to drive a car to their pick-up point. I was really looking forward to going uphill and spending some time clearing my head. I always seem to have these very contemplative moments while climbing by myself and it is much needed right now. However, I had mad problems with the iAero and the day’s main goal was fitness testing to get some baseline data for Zach. Thus the sacrifices for cycling glory continue. Instead of spending the day railing it up mountains on a beautiful day I was throwing stuff around my apartment with unending frustration. I finally got it working, more or less, and had to settle for another ride around Chapel Hill. Luckily I was cross eyed most of the time due to the testing and didn’t really know where I was at.
Friday and Saturday brought more hard rides. My training is going to shift significantly with Zach. Time on the bike has decreased while intensity has done the opposite. When you look at the time I’m spending on the bike you think “Ahhh, that’s nothing.” Then you see the actual workout and after only three days I can already tell you that these workouts are draining. I’m really anxious to see the results. Side note, if you ever hear me say “bro” it means I’m really tired and need sleep. Also, look for my guest contributions on the Presicion Cycle Coach blog.
Team News: My frame size is in! Now it just needs to be painted, come on Jack Kane I know you can do it. I think we are going to have to reassess the goals of the team for the year. We are down to three guys right now. Two of which have combined to race a grand total of five or so times. We’re looking for someone else to fill a slot but it’s really late in the game right now, and who wants to ride for a team that doesn’t race? I hope the other guys decide to step it up soon, it’s time.
Random News: I finally watched Sixteen Candles, quality. I’ll actually not be in the car traveling from a race today so I can watch the Paris-Roubaix coverage. My heart wants George to win, but it seems improbable. My mind says who cares, it’s Roubaix, and it’s going to be epic regardless. I can’t stop listening to Old Crow Medicine Show and I think I’m starting to like Euro dance music too much while I’m on the bike.
With no work on Thursday and Friday I was looking forward to some good riding and getting the ball rolling with my new coach, Zach Lail. I was also super pumped since my brothers were going backpacking at Stone Mountain and needed someone to drive a car to their pick-up point. I was really looking forward to going uphill and spending some time clearing my head. I always seem to have these very contemplative moments while climbing by myself and it is much needed right now. However, I had mad problems with the iAero and the day’s main goal was fitness testing to get some baseline data for Zach. Thus the sacrifices for cycling glory continue. Instead of spending the day railing it up mountains on a beautiful day I was throwing stuff around my apartment with unending frustration. I finally got it working, more or less, and had to settle for another ride around Chapel Hill. Luckily I was cross eyed most of the time due to the testing and didn’t really know where I was at.
Friday and Saturday brought more hard rides. My training is going to shift significantly with Zach. Time on the bike has decreased while intensity has done the opposite. When you look at the time I’m spending on the bike you think “Ahhh, that’s nothing.” Then you see the actual workout and after only three days I can already tell you that these workouts are draining. I’m really anxious to see the results. Side note, if you ever hear me say “bro” it means I’m really tired and need sleep. Also, look for my guest contributions on the Presicion Cycle Coach blog.
Team News: My frame size is in! Now it just needs to be painted, come on Jack Kane I know you can do it. I think we are going to have to reassess the goals of the team for the year. We are down to three guys right now. Two of which have combined to race a grand total of five or so times. We’re looking for someone else to fill a slot but it’s really late in the game right now, and who wants to ride for a team that doesn’t race? I hope the other guys decide to step it up soon, it’s time.
Random News: I finally watched Sixteen Candles, quality. I’ll actually not be in the car traveling from a race today so I can watch the Paris-Roubaix coverage. My heart wants George to win, but it seems improbable. My mind says who cares, it’s Roubaix, and it’s going to be epic regardless. I can’t stop listening to Old Crow Medicine Show and I think I’m starting to like Euro dance music too much while I’m on the bike.
Monday, April 6, 2009
Steep Learning Curve
The new game has officially started. Last weekend in Rock Hill, SC was a rude awakening. It was my first race as a Cat 2 rider and any illusions I had about my level of fitness were quickly ripped out of my body via my legs.
Rock Hill is about as tough as it gets for a smaller local race. Mountain Khakis and DLP had full squads. There were also a couple Kenda and Team Type 1 riders thrown in for good measure. In addition to the roughly 15 pro riders there were also several top level regional amateur teams fielding full squads. The final tally was around 85 guys on the line. Saturday was the downtown crit on a technical course. I was still feeling the birthday celebration from Thursday but wasn’t putting pressure on myself so I was relaxed. Lining up was a bit of a rush. I had finally made it to the main event and was rolling up beside some guys that are strait up legit bike racers. The gun went off and the fun ended there. I was gaped off in almost every corner for the first three or four laps. After that I started driving my bike better but by that point I had been at the back and guys were getting popped. I constantly found myself having to close gaps which was not good. Closing a gap in a 3 race is nothing. I never thought twice about it. I knew I could close anything but then again I wasn’t having to accelerate up to 30 mph out of every corner. In short, it was fast. After about 20 minutes a guy made a desperate move to stay on and about took my front wheel out in the process. Then he blew and left another gap, my day was done. The real kick in the pants was the fact that the entire time I was dying a thousand deaths and getting dropped, Hekman was off the front by himself. It’s just another level.
After spending the night with the Mountain Khakis guys at some excellent host housing I was hoping for a better result on Sunday. I still wasn’t putting too much pressure on myself and decided to just race as hard as I could and whatever that was it was. I felt like most of the garbage from Thursday was flushed out of my system the previous day so I was ready to ride. I got a good spot on the line and wanted to stay near the front in case there were any big splits in the field. I wasn’t looking for a small break but if 20 or so guys rolled away I wanted to be in it. We started slow as everyone got warmed up. It was the calm before the storm. After 10 or 15 minutes the clouds were starting to look ominous. A Mountain Khakis rider rolls past, closely followed by a DLP rider, then Jet Fuel, Global Bike. Then, all at once, BOOM, the shit hit the fan. One guy went and it was on, it was just never ending attacks from then on. There was this constant reshuffling of the deck as guys went, were brought back, countered, and so on. I stayed near the front most of that time and if 20 guys had gone I had a good chance of being there. Ten guys eventually got away and it was game over. The pack chilled until we hit the hills on the last lap and things warmed up again. Nothing crazy but we weren’t exactly chatting on the hills either. The last ten miles were insane but incredibly fun. I didn’t have a computer on but I swear we averaged at least 30 mph for that entire stretch. Everyone was attacking, chasing, fighting for position. There is definitely going to be a learning curve to this part of the race at this level but I felt good and was enjoying the fight. I stayed in decent position most of the time and felt like I still had some legs for the field sprint. However, I was too far back and rolled in around 30 something. It was a little redemption from the previous day and very educational. So I was able to end on a fairly positive note.
Another positive from last week was that I started working with Zach Lail of Precision Cycle Coach. I’m really excited to be working with Zach and I think his experience is going to be immensely helpful. More updates on that as it progresses. The bad news of the week was hearing that another one of my teammates had to withdraw from ITS-Kane. That means the already small squad of five is down to three, two of which apparently don’t race bikes much. Hopefully we can pick up another guy and everyone will start racing consistently. The other bad news is that my frame size isn’t in yet. It’s supposedly being expedited from Taiwan but who knows. So the new componentry and the iAero are going on the current ride for now. The next post will probably be an update on how that’s going. Now it’s time for more much needed rest. Adios.
Rock Hill is about as tough as it gets for a smaller local race. Mountain Khakis and DLP had full squads. There were also a couple Kenda and Team Type 1 riders thrown in for good measure. In addition to the roughly 15 pro riders there were also several top level regional amateur teams fielding full squads. The final tally was around 85 guys on the line. Saturday was the downtown crit on a technical course. I was still feeling the birthday celebration from Thursday but wasn’t putting pressure on myself so I was relaxed. Lining up was a bit of a rush. I had finally made it to the main event and was rolling up beside some guys that are strait up legit bike racers. The gun went off and the fun ended there. I was gaped off in almost every corner for the first three or four laps. After that I started driving my bike better but by that point I had been at the back and guys were getting popped. I constantly found myself having to close gaps which was not good. Closing a gap in a 3 race is nothing. I never thought twice about it. I knew I could close anything but then again I wasn’t having to accelerate up to 30 mph out of every corner. In short, it was fast. After about 20 minutes a guy made a desperate move to stay on and about took my front wheel out in the process. Then he blew and left another gap, my day was done. The real kick in the pants was the fact that the entire time I was dying a thousand deaths and getting dropped, Hekman was off the front by himself. It’s just another level.
After spending the night with the Mountain Khakis guys at some excellent host housing I was hoping for a better result on Sunday. I still wasn’t putting too much pressure on myself and decided to just race as hard as I could and whatever that was it was. I felt like most of the garbage from Thursday was flushed out of my system the previous day so I was ready to ride. I got a good spot on the line and wanted to stay near the front in case there were any big splits in the field. I wasn’t looking for a small break but if 20 or so guys rolled away I wanted to be in it. We started slow as everyone got warmed up. It was the calm before the storm. After 10 or 15 minutes the clouds were starting to look ominous. A Mountain Khakis rider rolls past, closely followed by a DLP rider, then Jet Fuel, Global Bike. Then, all at once, BOOM, the shit hit the fan. One guy went and it was on, it was just never ending attacks from then on. There was this constant reshuffling of the deck as guys went, were brought back, countered, and so on. I stayed near the front most of that time and if 20 guys had gone I had a good chance of being there. Ten guys eventually got away and it was game over. The pack chilled until we hit the hills on the last lap and things warmed up again. Nothing crazy but we weren’t exactly chatting on the hills either. The last ten miles were insane but incredibly fun. I didn’t have a computer on but I swear we averaged at least 30 mph for that entire stretch. Everyone was attacking, chasing, fighting for position. There is definitely going to be a learning curve to this part of the race at this level but I felt good and was enjoying the fight. I stayed in decent position most of the time and felt like I still had some legs for the field sprint. However, I was too far back and rolled in around 30 something. It was a little redemption from the previous day and very educational. So I was able to end on a fairly positive note.
Another positive from last week was that I started working with Zach Lail of Precision Cycle Coach. I’m really excited to be working with Zach and I think his experience is going to be immensely helpful. More updates on that as it progresses. The bad news of the week was hearing that another one of my teammates had to withdraw from ITS-Kane. That means the already small squad of five is down to three, two of which apparently don’t race bikes much. Hopefully we can pick up another guy and everyone will start racing consistently. The other bad news is that my frame size isn’t in yet. It’s supposedly being expedited from Taiwan but who knows. So the new componentry and the iAero are going on the current ride for now. The next post will probably be an update on how that’s going. Now it’s time for more much needed rest. Adios.
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