When I first started racing, one of my objectives was to "get paid" for doing what I love most.
So this weekend, I got m first expense cheque. Ok, it's not quite pro, in that it is just being reimbursed for what I have spent, but it's amazing how fast the bills can add up and how much it can cost to travel and to race. Fair enough, if you spend your life travelling and racing it's only fitting that sponsors help you out and cover your costs.
So another race under my belt, did the Toronto Zig Zag race. A small crit on the Lake in Toronto. I had put in a big week of training and was pretty busy so I knew I wouldn't be a 100%, but it was a good chance to see the boys and gel a little with the team. I drove down solo and hung with my friends Peter and Hailey and watched some hockey and chit chatted about non-cycling things...kind of refreshing when you get to hang out with people that don't race, it really takes your mind off of things. I was a little too relaxed at the start and was not really paying attention and I almost got popped by my lackadaisical racing style. Pete and Thorben were in a break right from the start and I missed the move so I stayed in the pack and covered team RACE's moves all day. It was a little confusing the break caught the pack then Pozniak went off the front with a non lapped rider Keir P and I throttles myself for a few laps but I fell a little short in trying to ring it back and I popped in the last lap so I just rolled in slowly.
Racing on the road, results are often times deceiving, you put in all this work over the winter, training, diet, training, you get stronger, smarter and still you can have poor results here and there. That's kind of the good thing about Cross...you get what you deserve. But anyways I would have to say that the Month of April has not been stellar, I haven't felt like I was 100% yet. Also being with a more of a team, when your guys are up the road, you don't chase em and your role changes a little bit. Last year I was a one man show, if I wasn't in the move I would manipulate the situation to make others chase, or bridge myself. So it's a little bit of an adaptation period to not always be in the spotlight, but it's kind of good for my patience.
I was using the April races to work on my form , try some things out. Funny enough my old style of racing, which is more like fighting or scrapping seems to be more effective. I've been a little too patient up to date and need to be race inspired a little more. I guess it's not a big deal, cause I never really go well in April anyways and May is usually a better month for me. Maybe some of my early season racing lacked objectives, I should have been a little more focused on certain things, cause I could have had some good results with I would have focused on some small details. In the car on the way back last night I was thinking what the hell is the problem, and I think I figured it out. So this weekend I'll put it in practice and see if I had some clear voyance or if it was just a matter of talking to myself in a four hour drive. If you're a bike racer you know how that works.
For the most part, the hard part is staying focused when the results are lackluster,it's easy when your on form and it's gong well. A few little things to tweak. I've been lazy, it has cost me. I race well when it's aggressive, not stupid but hard, enough of this trying to be lazy BS.
That's not me. Glen once told me, when you find a wasy to win, stick with it. I think I have learned to be a little more patient this month...but there is definitely a possibility in being too patient. Lessons learnedi , just need the legs and the head to be there to show up at the same time, that way I can stop making excuses and put some more hardware on the shelf.
DSJ
Monday, April 28, 2008
Monday, April 21, 2008
Tour of Batenkill/Calabogie Classic-DSJ
Weekend number one of racing in the books, well I guess it' number two, but last week was more like a ride for me. So we packed the car and headed out to Salem NY to do the Tour of the Battenkill. Dollar for dollar the best race I've ever done...mainly cause the organizer waived our entry fee and we had host housing at a Christian Youth Centre. That scared me a little bit at first, but the place was great, the people running the facility were really organized and the Centre was on acres of beautiful land nestled in the Adirondacks a few hours South of Lake Placid.
Anyways men's race 130km on paved/unpaved roads, steep climbs, lots of gradual climbs, technical race in the way that positioning was key. Lessons learned last year from Tour de Toona, if you are in a field of 100 riders, you need to be in the first ten up the climbs. For the "flats" if you are not moving forwards you are moving backwards. It's kind of fun now that that stuff is not second nature but it's just kind of natural. We didn't really have time to do the whole course, but rode the last little bit and drove a little as well. There was one section that stuck out in mind as a critical section, a turn off the county road onto a steep unpaved climb.
I positioned myself well in the race and tried to get the two other Jet Fuel boys to do the same, but they had a little bad luck and ended up a little further back then they should have been.
I made the selection in the front group and followed wheels, stayed out of the wind and out of trouble all day. I chopped to the inside of the rode and tucked myself into second wheel on the critical section, really had to moderate my efforts trying to cover moves since I was solo in the 20-30 man selection and I only had two bottles all day, two small ones at that. My legs felt great but my head felt like it was going to explode and I started hallucinating a little...just a little. My mouth felt like I ran out of sweat and body sucked out the fluid from face to keep my legs moving. I poached a bottle of coke from a spectator in last 20 km, but the damage was already done. I almost got dropped...no I did get dropped on the last climb as my legs cramped up...but I fought my back on the downhill through loose gravel descents and some semi technical riding. Belgian style, I put it in a huge gear 54-12 and just ripped the shit out of pedals until I regained contact. I tried to position myself well for the sprint, 2 guys were a few hundred meters off the front, they must have went on the climb...So ended up 15th, not bad especially since I was two bike lengths from a podium...so mission accomplished. Limiting factor was hydration...but what can you do. Next time I'll bring some Canadian Maple syrup and see if anyone wants to trade for water...or I'll make sure we drag someone to the feed zone.
Tasha finished 4th in a chase group of 5 sprint finish, a pretty solid result. She tried to go a little too early in the race and had no teammates to feed off of, paid for it a little, but sill pretty happy about her result.
She finished 3rd yesterday at Calabogie with some great teamwork, another decent result coupled with the fact that Saturdays race and travel were taxing, a good way to impose some early season stress by hitting a double weekend.
Dave B, Kev and I rode yesterday with a semi structured plan. I wasn't really too worried about the result, mainly these early season races most have a purpose, the purpose can sometimes be a good result, but there is a lot to be gained by exercising some tactic. What do these guys learn if I blast up the rode and get in the break, nothing. So we waited stuck to the plan and it almost worked, we would have needed to execute it a little sooner. It was nice to see those boys tear themselves apart though, good on them. I ended up 7th, not bad considering my avg. power for 3/4 of race of negligible.
It's a little hard to swallow your pride and get beat locally, especially since for most of the people in the community, these are "the races", but these races must be sacrificed for later success.
Just because there is "a race", doesn't make it an "A race". Nice, I just came up with that.
DSJ
Anyways men's race 130km on paved/unpaved roads, steep climbs, lots of gradual climbs, technical race in the way that positioning was key. Lessons learned last year from Tour de Toona, if you are in a field of 100 riders, you need to be in the first ten up the climbs. For the "flats" if you are not moving forwards you are moving backwards. It's kind of fun now that that stuff is not second nature but it's just kind of natural. We didn't really have time to do the whole course, but rode the last little bit and drove a little as well. There was one section that stuck out in mind as a critical section, a turn off the county road onto a steep unpaved climb.
I positioned myself well in the race and tried to get the two other Jet Fuel boys to do the same, but they had a little bad luck and ended up a little further back then they should have been.
I made the selection in the front group and followed wheels, stayed out of the wind and out of trouble all day. I chopped to the inside of the rode and tucked myself into second wheel on the critical section, really had to moderate my efforts trying to cover moves since I was solo in the 20-30 man selection and I only had two bottles all day, two small ones at that. My legs felt great but my head felt like it was going to explode and I started hallucinating a little...just a little. My mouth felt like I ran out of sweat and body sucked out the fluid from face to keep my legs moving. I poached a bottle of coke from a spectator in last 20 km, but the damage was already done. I almost got dropped...no I did get dropped on the last climb as my legs cramped up...but I fought my back on the downhill through loose gravel descents and some semi technical riding. Belgian style, I put it in a huge gear 54-12 and just ripped the shit out of pedals until I regained contact. I tried to position myself well for the sprint, 2 guys were a few hundred meters off the front, they must have went on the climb...So ended up 15th, not bad especially since I was two bike lengths from a podium...so mission accomplished. Limiting factor was hydration...but what can you do. Next time I'll bring some Canadian Maple syrup and see if anyone wants to trade for water...or I'll make sure we drag someone to the feed zone.
Tasha finished 4th in a chase group of 5 sprint finish, a pretty solid result. She tried to go a little too early in the race and had no teammates to feed off of, paid for it a little, but sill pretty happy about her result.
She finished 3rd yesterday at Calabogie with some great teamwork, another decent result coupled with the fact that Saturdays race and travel were taxing, a good way to impose some early season stress by hitting a double weekend.
Dave B, Kev and I rode yesterday with a semi structured plan. I wasn't really too worried about the result, mainly these early season races most have a purpose, the purpose can sometimes be a good result, but there is a lot to be gained by exercising some tactic. What do these guys learn if I blast up the rode and get in the break, nothing. So we waited stuck to the plan and it almost worked, we would have needed to execute it a little sooner. It was nice to see those boys tear themselves apart though, good on them. I ended up 7th, not bad considering my avg. power for 3/4 of race of negligible.
It's a little hard to swallow your pride and get beat locally, especially since for most of the people in the community, these are "the races", but these races must be sacrificed for later success.
Just because there is "a race", doesn't make it an "A race". Nice, I just came up with that.
DSJ
Sunday, April 13, 2008
Let the Bike Games Begin
Hey Everyone,
So it's been awhile since I have done a post. I leave Derrick to this most days, as one, my writing skills aren't to par with his and two, I don't have as much time to waste as him! Just kidding on the last one, mainly because it's probably the opposite, as I constantly make him do my bike mechanics and he's also become my personal chef this year. I've kind of been eating so well and healthy that now if I have anything other than his cooking, my body reacts in some bizarre way like a skull crushing migraine headache.
What's new? Today was the first road race of the season. Well kind of, Almonte Roubaix is kind of like the Ottawa version of the Paris Roubaix classic. This year because of all the snow and the late thaw, it was a pretty different race than other years. They had to alter the route and it consisted of mainly dirt and sucking the life out of you sandy rolling hills. I got my new kit last week and was riding with the new team EMD Serono/Stevens. My team was there is full support as I was already told that this was my race to win being the cross rider of the team. So game on!
Race start, mass start of about 150 top men of the area and about 10 or so women. I positioned myself well through out the first 20km or so and then the race really started to pick up. As it picked up I got further and further towards the front knowing that the elastic band was going to snap soon. Sure enough it did and I think two of my teammates on the men's team were off the front and I was left in the chase group of about 10 guys or so. I was suffering like a dog but didn't want to get dropped, then all of a sudden we missed a turn on the course and we all were in panic mode and slammed on our breaks and turned around. Because of this, a group caught up to us and we were now 30 or so. I then realized I was the only women in the pack and knew the race was mine, all I had to do was suffer with these guys for the next 40 km or so. The pace picked up through the hills, then some guys went off the front to chase the two up the road. I was left in the main pack and feeling pretty awful, but was willing to suffer to the end. The paced picked up mainly because of my other half (Derrick) going to the front and pushing are groups pace. I hung in there as we dropped a few more riders off our group. Although, how much I was suffering is was really fun to be racing with these guys. There's not many times I can say that I was riding with my fiance in a race. I think he felt the same way as it was probably one of the only times he as actually really got to see how I race.
With about 12 km to go, Derrick attacked off what was left of our group and another rider followed him. The pace really started to go with the rest of the my group and with about 5km to go I did a little attack up a climb that later almost caused me to get dropped. Luckily I managed to find my way back on through a gravel corner as I waited for the pack to break into the corner (thank you cross skills). Ended up finishing somewhere in the top 15 in the Men's field and am really happy with the end result. Unfortunately, while Derrick was off the front he got a flat and pretty much had to walk his bike to the finish. Not really a double great day, but having both of us racing, usually one of having a good result is just as good! Derrick said he really enjoyed seeing me race and wasn't really bummed out at all. That's a huge difference from the Derrick I started dated almost 3 years ago!
NCE
So it's been awhile since I have done a post. I leave Derrick to this most days, as one, my writing skills aren't to par with his and two, I don't have as much time to waste as him! Just kidding on the last one, mainly because it's probably the opposite, as I constantly make him do my bike mechanics and he's also become my personal chef this year. I've kind of been eating so well and healthy that now if I have anything other than his cooking, my body reacts in some bizarre way like a skull crushing migraine headache.
What's new? Today was the first road race of the season. Well kind of, Almonte Roubaix is kind of like the Ottawa version of the Paris Roubaix classic. This year because of all the snow and the late thaw, it was a pretty different race than other years. They had to alter the route and it consisted of mainly dirt and sucking the life out of you sandy rolling hills. I got my new kit last week and was riding with the new team EMD Serono/Stevens. My team was there is full support as I was already told that this was my race to win being the cross rider of the team. So game on!
Race start, mass start of about 150 top men of the area and about 10 or so women. I positioned myself well through out the first 20km or so and then the race really started to pick up. As it picked up I got further and further towards the front knowing that the elastic band was going to snap soon. Sure enough it did and I think two of my teammates on the men's team were off the front and I was left in the chase group of about 10 guys or so. I was suffering like a dog but didn't want to get dropped, then all of a sudden we missed a turn on the course and we all were in panic mode and slammed on our breaks and turned around. Because of this, a group caught up to us and we were now 30 or so. I then realized I was the only women in the pack and knew the race was mine, all I had to do was suffer with these guys for the next 40 km or so. The pace picked up through the hills, then some guys went off the front to chase the two up the road. I was left in the main pack and feeling pretty awful, but was willing to suffer to the end. The paced picked up mainly because of my other half (Derrick) going to the front and pushing are groups pace. I hung in there as we dropped a few more riders off our group. Although, how much I was suffering is was really fun to be racing with these guys. There's not many times I can say that I was riding with my fiance in a race. I think he felt the same way as it was probably one of the only times he as actually really got to see how I race.
With about 12 km to go, Derrick attacked off what was left of our group and another rider followed him. The pace really started to go with the rest of the my group and with about 5km to go I did a little attack up a climb that later almost caused me to get dropped. Luckily I managed to find my way back on through a gravel corner as I waited for the pack to break into the corner (thank you cross skills). Ended up finishing somewhere in the top 15 in the Men's field and am really happy with the end result. Unfortunately, while Derrick was off the front he got a flat and pretty much had to walk his bike to the finish. Not really a double great day, but having both of us racing, usually one of having a good result is just as good! Derrick said he really enjoyed seeing me race and wasn't really bummed out at all. That's a huge difference from the Derrick I started dated almost 3 years ago!
NCE
Sunday, April 6, 2008
Prepared-DSJ
It's not as if training is now over, but we managed to get through a good 3 month chunk of preparation for the first half of 2008's endeavours. We put the work in focusing on quality and made a few changes that were necessary for us to be contenders at the next level. It's one thing to race Elite/Pro, but it's a whole other story to really factor in the mix. One of my goals this year is to cause fear. I remember a few years ago, Glen (Rendall) and I were chatting and he said his goal for the team was to show up at a race and the other teams to say "...shit those guys are going to be here, it's going to be a hard day". Once we get things sorted out with boys (Jet Fuel) I hope that we can do that this year.
After countless hours on the trainer, I managed to sneak away for a nice little 130 km ride today. Natasha went up to pre-ride the Almonte course and I planned out a route that would get me there in four hours. To my suprise I got there way ahead of scheduel and did my own little Almonte Roubaix ride through the mine field of pot holes on the side roads. If you have never blasted down these torturous roads at 45 km/hr on 23 mm tires with aero wheels you don't know what you're missing. Man it was like walking a tight rope, there were lines to take through the endless potholes, but you had to be extremely vigilant. I think if Natasha saw me riding down these roads she would have had a heart attack. It was nice to get out there and do a point to point ride like that and have a lift back home. I like to be able to go out, keep the power up, do the correct training and achieve the desired goal. The problem is it's so easy to start really pushing it when there are others in a group...and you are feeling good...the sun is shinning man I can almost taste the sweet pain...but alas, I really feel like doing what you are supposed to do pays in the long run. Besides once I start out for a ride, to tell the truth I don't really like stoppping and waiting or slowing down. Obviously you have to think long term as well, I mean it's gotta be fun and ridining with others is definetly a good Rx for enjoyment and company. But the problem is you can't really always dictate the pace, so you go for your ride and enjoy the solo time. The SRM becomes my freind and I'm going to hate myself for saying this but I took Dr B's advice and downloaded Yoav's new album, it's suprisingly good. Good music, some numbers to look at, a chance to get out and do cool 130 km loop through places like Mannotick, North Gower, Missisipi Mills and not get ost, makes for a pretty cool afternoon. Maybe I'm a little anti-social...but it's kind of what it's all about. I figure I train my ass off if I want to ride at X/km an hour for four hours I'm going to do it. There's definetly something to be said about having the freedom in doing a good ride like this.
I remeber someone once asked me if I was a bike racer or a bike rider. Over the last few years I've definetly become a bike racer. But there was something special about the ride today. I had googlemapped the directions and stretched out the route to take the long way, I printed out the written directions and tucked them up my sleeve, so when I was riding I could just pull them out, look at how many km's I had to do, correlate it with the SRM distance and voila a la Almonte. It's little things like this that rememind me that I was once just a bike rider as well. It's the freedom to propel yourself a 130 km's in a few hours fuled by two bottles of juice, some pitas and some fruit. It's the freedom of cycling that drew me in years ago, it's the freedom that keeps me going.
After countless hours on the trainer, I managed to sneak away for a nice little 130 km ride today. Natasha went up to pre-ride the Almonte course and I planned out a route that would get me there in four hours. To my suprise I got there way ahead of scheduel and did my own little Almonte Roubaix ride through the mine field of pot holes on the side roads. If you have never blasted down these torturous roads at 45 km/hr on 23 mm tires with aero wheels you don't know what you're missing. Man it was like walking a tight rope, there were lines to take through the endless potholes, but you had to be extremely vigilant. I think if Natasha saw me riding down these roads she would have had a heart attack. It was nice to get out there and do a point to point ride like that and have a lift back home. I like to be able to go out, keep the power up, do the correct training and achieve the desired goal. The problem is it's so easy to start really pushing it when there are others in a group...and you are feeling good...the sun is shinning man I can almost taste the sweet pain...but alas, I really feel like doing what you are supposed to do pays in the long run. Besides once I start out for a ride, to tell the truth I don't really like stoppping and waiting or slowing down. Obviously you have to think long term as well, I mean it's gotta be fun and ridining with others is definetly a good Rx for enjoyment and company. But the problem is you can't really always dictate the pace, so you go for your ride and enjoy the solo time. The SRM becomes my freind and I'm going to hate myself for saying this but I took Dr B's advice and downloaded Yoav's new album, it's suprisingly good. Good music, some numbers to look at, a chance to get out and do cool 130 km loop through places like Mannotick, North Gower, Missisipi Mills and not get ost, makes for a pretty cool afternoon. Maybe I'm a little anti-social...but it's kind of what it's all about. I figure I train my ass off if I want to ride at X/km an hour for four hours I'm going to do it. There's definetly something to be said about having the freedom in doing a good ride like this.
I remeber someone once asked me if I was a bike racer or a bike rider. Over the last few years I've definetly become a bike racer. But there was something special about the ride today. I had googlemapped the directions and stretched out the route to take the long way, I printed out the written directions and tucked them up my sleeve, so when I was riding I could just pull them out, look at how many km's I had to do, correlate it with the SRM distance and voila a la Almonte. It's little things like this that rememind me that I was once just a bike rider as well. It's the freedom to propel yourself a 130 km's in a few hours fuled by two bottles of juice, some pitas and some fruit. It's the freedom of cycling that drew me in years ago, it's the freedom that keeps me going.
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