Learning about Cyclo-cross

A couple of things I've learned:

1) CX is really hard on a bike. Between the unusual stress from the low end accelerations, the bumps, and the crashes, you really beat the crap out of your bike. I have been to the mechanic every week after I've raced. Compared to road or mountain, cx is seriously abusive.

2) Good tubulars + low pressure = good results. If you want to keep both wheels on the ground (most of the time), you need have them. The Michelin mud 2 is a nice clincher, but there is a noticeable difference riding tubulars. They feel much faster on a cx bike.

3) I need to practice dismounts and remounts under more stressful conditions. I think the drills should come at the end of a tough workout, because you will feel the same way half way through a cross race.

The CX season so far

Pete and I have been competing in some of the cyclocross races around the area. I've done a few cat 4 races: 3 of the 4 Nebraska CX series races, Capital Cup, Boulevard Cup, and the Riverside CX. The only below par experience was Riverside, due to an overly technical course designed for mountain bikers, though the organization of the race was excellent. The other races went well: 1st at NE CX #2, 1st at Capital Cup, 2nd at NE #3 and at #4, 5th at Boulevard even with two crashes (should have been on the podium). Pete was 2nd at Nebraska CX #1, which was his first cx race! He ended up eighth yesterday, an excellent result on a fairly difficult course.

Next weekend is one of the big ones: Jingle Cross in Iowa City. The elite races are UCI, and total prize money is $20k. It's a fun course, and the competition will be top notch. I'm hoping to finish in the upper half of the masters 45+.

Come on baby, let's do the twist!

Here's a nice shot of the twisty maze that maestro Randy laid out for our recent xross race. I had a riot racing. It really emphasized bike handling skills. I was bombing down the paths. Check out the guys going every which way here!

The Doctor is in!

Here's a shot of Professor Crist routing the field and crossing the finish line uncontested in the Omaha Velo Club's cyclocross weekend. Not only did Randy romp, but he also organized the profitable and fun OVC-sponsored cross race. We heard nothing but good things about the course layout. Thanks, Math Guy for the memories.

Top of Tennessee

Well, I've been up to the top of the tallest mountain in Tennessee. Clingman's Dome is almost 6700 ft. tall. Here I am at the top, having pedaled up 20 miles from the Sugarview Visitor's Center, starting at 1700 ft. People thought I was nuts for biking up. Lucky they didn't follow me on the way down! I was screaming! Speed limit was 30 mph thru many of the tight turns, but I was cornering at 35 mph, hitting 40+ mph after the turns. Led a pack of cars for about 5 miles down, then pulled off to let them by. Got a lot of thumbs up. Beautiful country. The shocking thing was that I was the only road biker I saw the entire week I was in TN. What's up with that?

Last, but not least

A picture I just like because of the angles and the depth. Let's hear from some of you other fellas, I seem to be monopolizing the blogspot recently. Hope to see some of you at the Make a Wish ride in Percival on Sunday. I plan on being there and launching around 8 PM. LSD ride planned!

Lookout Below!

After I did Cottonwood Pass (12,165 ft.) on Saturday, Independence Pass (12,095 ft.) on Sunday, climbed three 14'ers on Monday (Mt. Lincoln, Mt. Cameron, Mt. Bross), I had to go to Denver for work. That's a bummer, but I did the MUTs there on Tuesday and Wednesday with a co-worker Chris from D.C. who had a Dahon breakaway. He's a Cat 4 racer back east. On Thursday after our conference was over, Chris and I pedaled from downtown Denver to the top of Lookout Mt. 56 mile roundtripper. Great views of metro Denver and Boulder (in the background).

Finished the trip off with an ascent of Flagstaff Mountain on Friday. BRUTAL!! Brought me to me knees with several 15% grades. I thought I was in shape until it humbled me. No pix, too busy panting. After I got thru with Flagstaff, I had enough of grades and thin air, headed back for the flatlands. GREAT TRIP tho! We should all do the Triple Bypass next year.

Prepare for flight!

For every grueling climb up, there is an exhilirating descent. I climbed to the top of 12,000ft. + Cottonwood Pass near Buena Vista, CO. On the descent, I flew down this slope and hit a new personal record of 55.3 mph! It was a gas.

xtreme photos!

Hey fellas,

Time to update our blogspot with some of the extreme heights this OVC'er has been to recently. Check out the team colors flying high on Top of the Rockies!

I biked up Independence Pass from Twin Lakes, CO. This photo at the top, then descended down into Aspen on the other side. Had lunch there, turned around and came back. 76 miles, with about 9,000 ft. of climbing. Super, man!

The dog days of summer racing!

Simone and Pete get ready to compete at the recent Dave Babcook crit. Simone romped to a second place finish in the kids race; Pete was romped upon and finished (kaput) at the end. Oh well.

Fred (below) rakes in gold in the 55+ at the Cornhusker State Games TT!

Pete surprises himself by taking the gold in Masters 45+ TT at the Games.

Lincoln Plating

El Guapo, Stick, Fred and I traveled to Lincoln for punishment of past sins at the Lincoln Plating Spring Cycling Classic. With winds of 25-35 mph and gusts to 45, it was a delightful day. Fred rode a phenomenal time trial, which would have placed him 23 out of 38 in cat 1-2, or 3rd in cat 3. Not bad for a 55 year old guy!

The road race was extraordinarily tough, especially after Master's being tossed in with the cat 3s. Fred and I survived with the peloton (which moved me from 7th to 4th in Master's 45), while Mark and Pete did a great job finishing on such a difficult day.

The circuit race was nice-we missed the rain and didn't have a bunch of overheated 3s trying to hurt each other. Fred rode away and beat everyone, the rest of us managed to survive. A tough race, but we made it.

Sunday Ride

Looking to ride the 72 mile Iowa Loop from Haworth Park on Sunday. If someone is interested, let me know.

Finally we can ride on the road!

It was wonderful to see the snow disappear from the landscape and be able to ride outside. Stick and Fred, you missed a nice ride-MV and I cruised through 65 sweet miles that didn't involve a trainer for the first time in two weeks.

Orange you glad you spin?

Wazziz? One fat, out of shape Orange Man trying to shave a few lbs. before outdoor season. And leading the spin class to boot. Showing his true colors! Practicing the victory pose after crossing the finish line first in spin class. Getting his sponsors in all the pix.

What is this? It's glorious! No weak sisters out here in Bugaha.

This snowy white carpet is part of the new training regimen. If the Husker volleyballer girls can train on indoor sand, the OVC'ers can train in 6" of fresh powder. We don't need no stinkin' 70F days. -2F commute makes me tuff. Pain is weakness leaving the body. Isn't this why God created cross bikes?

The Shaft

Here you think that you might be able to FINALLY start training hard for those spring races and it freaking snows again.


What is this crap?>>>>

Messy 45

Stick, MV and I headed out for a ride in the mess made by the warmer weather. Doing the downtown loop, it was a great time getting outside. Hope everyone has a chance to go out today... ToC is on Vs. (what a moronic name-wonder how much the consultants charged for that piece of stupidity). Go Dave Z! (who has one HOT wife).......

What's Up?

Hey, Mike and I are headed out Sunday for a ride down the Keystone (probably 40 miles). We'll be at Aksarben at noon (right by FDR and the Kiewitt bidness hatchery). Bring a c-x bike as there's still ice and snow in spots on the trail......

Schedule for the year

Hey, what races are people planning on doing this year? I'm looking at:

Road
Lincoln Plating SR (NE) [Masters]
Velotek GP SR (KS) [Cat 4]
Joe Martin SR (AR) [Cat 4]
Tour 10k Lakes SR (MN) [Cat 4]
Babcook SR (NE) [Masters]
Cliff Drive Classic (MO) [Cat 4]
NE State Road Race [Masters]

CX
TBD, but a bunch (Nationals in KC!)

MTB
A few on less technical courses

Plating is a training race (what's the point when the courses are so flat and the TT so long?), Velotek a "B" race, and Martin and 10k Lakes are my "A" races. The others are later in the year, so they are "see how you feel" races.

US C-X comes of age

The Belgians had better look out! The US riders swipe THREE silvers at the World Championships! The funniest thing about CXWC was Wellen's bitchy comments about the podium. Well, finishing fourth might do that to you (and apparently it doesn't end-Wellens is suing the organizers for lost income from his broken wrist).

Fantasy bike (when I win the lottery)

Scott Addict with SRAM Force component group and nice (Lightweight, if price is no object) wheels. Then there's the cross bike, the mountain bike, and the TT bike.....

Freezin' the buns off

Went out for a "God, if I spend one more minute on the trainer, I'll kill myself*" outdoor ride. Finished up a 1.75 hour ride in 16 degree weather, with a wind chill of 3. Amazingly, I get to Cornhusker Road on the trail and catch Joe Savoie (An Elkhorn Valley CC member) and we decided that being able to talk to someone as you slowly freeze to death is preferable to freezing alone.

Stick, Fred, where are you guys? It's time for Pete and me to call y'all out!

*Did a 3 hours trainer ride with MV (he did 5 hours. Yikes!)

Make-a-Wish (selfish version)

All rightee, then. Here's a novel concept. Publish your dream bike here. I'm saving up my dinero for a boutique bike, destined to ogle and polish, but not race. Here is choice #1:
Colnago C 50, with the PRAL paint scheme. All's I need after that is to find a Spiderman jersey and tights. Call me whack!

Missing in Action!

Marcus Stickrodius....where were you for group cycling tonite? I had a good class, but we missed you. I played the 2004 Tour de France Stage 20 video during class. Teaching twice per week, Wednesday's at 545 PM at Maple Y, Saturday's at 815 AM at S/SW Y. Lemme know if you wanna guest pass, 'cepting Marcus who is a member. Hufflepuff!

Poster Boys!

Hey now, check out the sweet magazine cover featuring the buff boys from Omaha Velo Club. This was during our Percival Make-a-Wish ride in September. If memory serves me correct, this was right before we launched on a high-speed 65-mile romp across the Loess Hills. Isn't that the ride where Randy still had enough juice in the tank to sprint the last couple hunnerd yards into Percival? Anyway, this will make good sponsorship material. I have hard copies for you cover models too! The dude in front in the red jersey is my bro-in-law, Mike. His employer's photographer took the cover photo for their employee magazine. BTW, where is El Guapo & Helmut Lang in this picture? Answer: somewhere off to the side and out of the photo....sadness!

World Record! (wind assisted)

Hey gang,

Two days ago the wind was howling out of the NW at 20-35 mph. So, my 6 AM morning commute was done in World Record time, 11.48 minutes for the 4.5 mile sprint from home to the Old Market. The beefy tailwind and hitting all the green lights sealed the deal on my Ridley Crossbow. Previous best was on the 'Nag in summer at 12.15 minutes. Trying to get in shape to hang on your wheels this upcoming road season.