Bier en modder

I’d been daydreaming, fantasizing probably, of a strong showing from November on out.  My plan was to start a gradual ramp-up of both speed and results until nationals in mid-December.  The first step was Saturday – OBRA Championships – down in Salem.

Starting last Thursday, it starting raining at a pretty solid clip.  Combined with a flat course, I guessed it would be a grind-it-out type of day.  I woke up early, after a lousy night’s sleep, to head down to work registration for the race.  I was tired, had a mediocre breakfast, and just kind of felt ‘blah’.

The morning started off cold, sunny (!?), and windy.  Race reports came back that the course was long with a few nasty headwinds but otherwise ok.  Oh how they lied.

Owen at OBRA CX

First, Owen did the Junior race.  I can’t tell you how proud I am that he finished 2 laps of that.  Amazing.  Among the 10-12 year old boys, he ended up 9th out of 10.  But for someone who is a month shy of 9 years old riding a 27 pound bike…I don’t know.  Over the barriers, through the mud, through the sand pit and motocross course.  Through those conditions, it takes a lot to finish it out and stay happy doing it.  I need to get him a real CX bike this winter.

My race was the last race of the day.  The sunny skies gave way to dark clouds and then opened up and collectively shat rain all over the course.  It was my intention to start out hard and hang with that top third of the pack.  Some solid riders came down for the race so I knew it would be a pretty fast, all-out race.

Off the start, the pack sorted itself out pretty quickly.  It didn’t take long to get into the mud.  Bikes were bouncing all over the place as the mud had a strong say in what direction you headed in.  Some of the time, it was best to just hold on and try to coax it into the right direction.

Bob Jacobs and I at OBRA CX

By midway though the 1st lap, a group of 6 or 8 representing the middle third of the race was together.  Ok.  Winning this little grupetto would be good.  So I buckled down and got to work.

A few of us took turns at the lead of this group over the next couple laps.  I found myself up front in the rough, windy, and slick back stretch.  Then, heading out of the mud and on pavement to the sand pit, I was suddenly last.

…and then 2 seconds off.  I’d gain it back only to lose it again about 200m later.

Lap 4…5 seconds off.  Lap 5…10 seconds off.

When you’re in a pack, someone is always driving the pace.  And if you’re not, you can try and sit in, take a break from the wind and ‘rest’.  Once you’re on your own though…you have to work for everything yourself.  It wears you down fast, which is why is critical to stay in a group.

Off the back, riding solo

It can get so frustrating.  There they are.  Right there.  30 yards away and I.  Cant.  Get.  Them.

So I spend the last lap or 2 churning away by myself.  I didn’t technically get lapped by Barry Wicks but he was close enough to finishing that I was pulled 1 lap short.  It was a mercy pull but a pull nonetheless.  I’m guessing I could have argued it and asked to keep going but I doubt it would have made a difference in the standings.  Ugh.

So after a forgettable race, Barton park is this coming weekend.  It’s the Cross Crusade finals.  I love Barton park, as I typically do well there.  THis year?  Who knows.

Both the GOP and the Yankees won over the past couple days meaning, despite civilizations best efforts, evil still prevails from time to time. Will we ever learn? Probably not.
Off-day today. Had a great ride up through the zoo yesterday with Chris and one of his co-workers. I love nice fall rides. I don’t love 5 minute intervals. Arguably the most uncomfortable duration I know of. Necessary but uncomfortable. So today is an easy day with the commute in and some light weights and core work during lunch.
Gluing the recently-rolled Grifos. Nothing like waiting until the last minute. Doesn’t really matter as I planned on going with the Racing Ralphs this Saturday anyway. It’d be nice, so nice, if I could get through a race without a mechanical. Yes, I’m talking about you Mr. Rear Wheel.
The rain is set to roll in later today. The few races I’ve done have been dry, dusty and bumpy. I’m ready for some mud.

“It’s been a while…and it’ll be a while”
So much for a late September update. So in a nutshell – trained a ton. Had a great result at Rainier (14th) and mediocre mechanicals at Heiser and Battle Creek (f-ing rear tires).
Registered for Nationals in Bend. Got my USGP license, applied for an upgrade, and got generously bumped up to Cat 1 (what?). Maybe it was a pity upgrade.
Regardless, I’m tentatively in 29th for start order. Nice.
Still building up to a peak for USGP and Nationals with OBRA CX Championships this weekend and Cross Crusade finals (at my favorite – Barton) next weekend. It’s all good.

Went out for 4×12x5 intervals yesterday along River Road.  At the end of the 1st, the Power Tap pooped out.  Couldn’t get a read from the hub.  After numerous f-bombs, I finished the workout and headed into work, finally realizing that I can’t really feel my toes.

Nearly broke Google looking for a solution and finally picked up some batteries for the hub unit.  I’d read somewhere that the cold temps really suck the life out of the batteries.  They should normally work on above 32F.  And Saris says about 300hr is average for battery life.  I’d just replaced everything in August but I have been riding a consistent 10-12 hours a week since.

Tried it out on the way home when it was warmer and it worked fine.  Got the batteries just in case so I’ll keep an eye on it.  With the weather gradually turning crappier and my broken trainer hopefully on it’s way back to me, this shouldn’t be too much of an issue.