I have wanted to set up a blog account for quite some time. The limiting factor seems to be one that limits most of the things we tend to do in our lives, time. Time, it always seems to pass slow when we want it to go fast, or fast when we want it to go slow. Usually if we spend 12 hours driving to race, we want the time go by as fast as possible. But if it's that two seconds the front wheel crosses the line before anyone elses, we want to hold the second hand as tight as possible not to let it go. I guess the funny thing about that is although we want time to go by differently, it is the one thing that remains constant throughout the universe. It is one limiting factor that we must all inevitably deal with.
So as Natasha and I sit here in a fuchsia colored hotel room, tucked in central British-Columbia, we do indeed have some time to put in some final preparations before the National Championships. The difference in time is three hours so we're trying to get on track with that. Since I hit the sack at six thirty last night and was able to get an astounding twelve hours of sleep in, it shouldn't be a problem. Thing now is we have to get our bodies used to riding a little later since it's pretty frigid right now, about 4 degs at 8am...so hence the time available to create a blogger, g-mail account and put down some thoughts.
Natasha and I thought it would be a good idea to create a blog to be able to let everyone know how things were going since we will be travelling a lot in the next few months. Basically we'll try to post as much as we can when we are away racing to keep in touch with anyone who is interested in following us trying to accomplish our dreams.
I'll always remember when I met Natasha and she told me that she wanted to be a Time Trialist. She said she would "focus" on this discipline, in hopes of one day being the best in the Country and her ultimate goal was to represent Canada in International competition. Over the last few years her "focus" has changed to Cyclo-cross. Reasons being 1) she is pretty good at it 2) I told her it would be a lot more fun then TT'ing 3) she has the type of engine that really lends itself well to this discipline. So now we're on the quest for a good performance at Nationals, accumulating mass amounts of UCI points and trying to figure out how we're going to get to World's. That being said, my ambitions in Cyclo-Cross this season have basically been a bi-product of Natasha's goals. I figure that since I have to drag my butt across Canada, the continental US and possibly over to Europe, I might as well try to put 100% into it as well and really try to achieve the best results possible. For me the fitness is there from a great season of racing on the road and Natasha's enthusiasm is contagious so I try to give it full gas every time I race. Let me tell you that the US Cross scene is so competitive that if you don't give 100% you can pretty much guarantee that you will find yourself off the back in about 30 seconds.
This year I have made several crucial observations throughout the first stretch of our season racing UCI Cross Races in the US.
1) It's all about the start. If you're not a good starter, you better figure out what your doing wrong, cause if you have any ambition of getting UCI points you have to start well.
2) It's all about the tubulars. So many cyclist are so retentive about their equipment, carbon this and that, lots of bling...but seriously the difference of riding tubulars is pretty amazing.
3)If your not fit you're finished. Being good technically can get you by in the local stuff..but if your engine isn't running well, it's not going to be fun.
4)It's all about the start.
5)Seeing Natasha double podium last weekend was probably one of the happiest moments of my life.
It was totally amazing to hear the announcers yell out her name ...saying "an unknown rider from Steven's Cross...at first they were calling her Amy Wallace", but then Robbie O went over and they got it straight. Then they were saying that this Canadian rider was riding with the best women in North America...it was awesome. If anyone heard the rumour that I was crying after seeing her sprint her brains out...well it's true, I was so happy. I don't even think that it has hit her yet, but that's OK, cause she's got some serious competition ahead this week. If the guys from Steven's would have been watching, they would have loved the publicity, the announcers talking up the bikes, the rider...man it was awesome.
None of our adventures this year could have taken place without the constant help of Vince Caceres from the Cyclery, who not only always helps us out when we need "stuff", but he even woke up at 6 am and drove us to the airport yesterday. Steve Proulx, who always makes sure our machines have not been StJohn'd. Stevens bicycles from Germany for setting up Stevens Cross. Most recently as well www.labidealprotein.com for supplying us with delicious supplements and travel assistance. The bars are awesome and the extra protein really helps the muscles after ripping the legs apart in Cross.
Stay tuned for exciting adventures of the Dynamic Duo, as Steve calls us, we thought it was funny, so we kept the joke running...
So as Natasha and I sit here in a fuchsia colored hotel room, tucked in central British-Columbia, we do indeed have some time to put in some final preparations before the National Championships. The difference in time is three hours so we're trying to get on track with that. Since I hit the sack at six thirty last night and was able to get an astounding twelve hours of sleep in, it shouldn't be a problem. Thing now is we have to get our bodies used to riding a little later since it's pretty frigid right now, about 4 degs at 8am...so hence the time available to create a blogger, g-mail account and put down some thoughts.
Natasha and I thought it would be a good idea to create a blog to be able to let everyone know how things were going since we will be travelling a lot in the next few months. Basically we'll try to post as much as we can when we are away racing to keep in touch with anyone who is interested in following us trying to accomplish our dreams.
I'll always remember when I met Natasha and she told me that she wanted to be a Time Trialist. She said she would "focus" on this discipline, in hopes of one day being the best in the Country and her ultimate goal was to represent Canada in International competition. Over the last few years her "focus" has changed to Cyclo-cross. Reasons being 1) she is pretty good at it 2) I told her it would be a lot more fun then TT'ing 3) she has the type of engine that really lends itself well to this discipline. So now we're on the quest for a good performance at Nationals, accumulating mass amounts of UCI points and trying to figure out how we're going to get to World's. That being said, my ambitions in Cyclo-Cross this season have basically been a bi-product of Natasha's goals. I figure that since I have to drag my butt across Canada, the continental US and possibly over to Europe, I might as well try to put 100% into it as well and really try to achieve the best results possible. For me the fitness is there from a great season of racing on the road and Natasha's enthusiasm is contagious so I try to give it full gas every time I race. Let me tell you that the US Cross scene is so competitive that if you don't give 100% you can pretty much guarantee that you will find yourself off the back in about 30 seconds.
This year I have made several crucial observations throughout the first stretch of our season racing UCI Cross Races in the US.
1) It's all about the start. If you're not a good starter, you better figure out what your doing wrong, cause if you have any ambition of getting UCI points you have to start well.
2) It's all about the tubulars. So many cyclist are so retentive about their equipment, carbon this and that, lots of bling...but seriously the difference of riding tubulars is pretty amazing.
3)If your not fit you're finished. Being good technically can get you by in the local stuff..but if your engine isn't running well, it's not going to be fun.
4)It's all about the start.
5)Seeing Natasha double podium last weekend was probably one of the happiest moments of my life.
It was totally amazing to hear the announcers yell out her name ...saying "an unknown rider from Steven's Cross...at first they were calling her Amy Wallace", but then Robbie O went over and they got it straight. Then they were saying that this Canadian rider was riding with the best women in North America...it was awesome. If anyone heard the rumour that I was crying after seeing her sprint her brains out...well it's true, I was so happy. I don't even think that it has hit her yet, but that's OK, cause she's got some serious competition ahead this week. If the guys from Steven's would have been watching, they would have loved the publicity, the announcers talking up the bikes, the rider...man it was awesome.
None of our adventures this year could have taken place without the constant help of Vince Caceres from the Cyclery, who not only always helps us out when we need "stuff", but he even woke up at 6 am and drove us to the airport yesterday. Steve Proulx, who always makes sure our machines have not been StJohn'd. Stevens bicycles from Germany for setting up Stevens Cross. Most recently as well www.labidealprotein.com for supplying us with delicious supplements and travel assistance. The bars are awesome and the extra protein really helps the muscles after ripping the legs apart in Cross.
Stay tuned for exciting adventures of the Dynamic Duo, as Steve calls us, we thought it was funny, so we kept the joke running...
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