Blogs by Professional Cyclists - Professional Cycling Unplugged™

So, I am sitting here at DIA (that would be Denver International Airport), again, waiting for my flight to Kansas City for the Cyclocross US National Championships.  Of course as I push, pull, and kick my big ass bike case that is carrying 2 bikes through the airport to check-in, I get many strange looks (not because I am swearing but because my bike bag is THAT big).  And while I stand in line to pass off my big load to the cheery airline people, I am inundated with questions about just what is in my big bag.  Normally my answer to this question is relatively easy because I am traveling with a road bike (in a much smaller bag) and all I have to say is, “It’s a road bike.  I race.  You know, like the Tour de France.  No?  Uh, like Lance Armstrong?”.  Ok, I will still get befuddled looks, but nothing so bemusing as when I try to explain that they are cyclocross bikes.  Huh?  And then when they put two and two together, realizing that I am racing a bike when there is snow on the ground and it is cold outside (gasp), a complete and total look of bewilderment spreads across their faces.  Try explaining that that’s what ‘cross is all about - the epic conditions that fall/winter brings.  Snow, mud, rain, sand, and frigid temperatures are what make ‘cross exciting for both the riders and the spectators.  The messier, the better.  Show them pictures from the races this past weekend in Portland (as I just did in my feeble attempt to illustrate ‘cross racing), and they just scratch their heads and tell me I’m crazy.

Crazy?  Yes. Yes, it is.  So, what is it about ‘cross that has hooked me bait, line and sinker?  Why is it that I am sitting here wishing that this wasn’t the last weekend of ‘cross in the US?  Man, I have tried numerous times to elucidate why it is that I like ‘cross so much, and I’ve come to realize that no one who hasn’t raced ‘cross themselves will truly understand.  ‘Cross is painful, the elements can be nasty, you might not be able to feel your fingers and toes or see through the mud caked on your face at the end…but I guess that is just what draws us in.  And every race is different, even from one day to the next, whether it’s the conditions that change, the course that gets rerouted, or both, requiring different skills for different courses and conditions.  Take Portland for example, Saturday’s race was relatively dry, fast, didn’t require any dismounts besides the barriers, and the sun was shining.  However, overnight rains turned the course into an entirely different beast.  It slowed down a bit, the mud was soupier and thicker, and slick mud forced us to run up and down the hills.  Different riders excel in certain kinds of conditions, although the top riders reign supreme in all conditions.  I have yet to excel in any particular condition, but I have certainly learned a hell of a lot this season.  Each race has thrown something new my way - from dry, grassy crit-like conditions to mud so thick we ran more than we rode - and I have had a blast trying something new each and every time I race.  I have loved the new challenges that come with ‘cross, trying to get a handle on the skills that are necessary to navigate the serpentine, muddy, grassy, sandy courses.  After 10 years of racing on the road, learning a completely new set of skills has been very refreshing.  And, damn, I am glad that I have been able to race instead of doing the monotonous interval after interval on the road since I much prefer racing over training any day!

What else do I love?  The fact that I can wear polka dot Wellies and look “normal” at a ‘cross race because I sure ain’t the only one tromping around in rain gear and shit kickers.  And the spectators kick ass - rain, snow or shine they are out in full force yelling for every racer that goes by whether they are leading the race or DFL.  Slide head first into the mud and they will scream even louder (this I know from experience).  Pick up a dollar bill from the “money pit” and they will ring the cowbells until they become deafening.

So, there you go - a few, simple reasons why I love this gig.

(3 votes, average: 5 out of 5)

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Posted under CYCLOCROSS, ROAD BIKE

Yep, I am a roadie and have been racing professionally for many years now, but for some reason this off season I got the bug to try something new.  Not new as in an entirely new sport - it’s still on 2 wheels - but it’s still something new to me.  Cyclocross.  And it didn’t take me long to get hooked either.  One race is all it took - CrossVegas.  Ok, well, it was easy to get hooked at that race because it was Vegas of all places, the crowd was nuts, energy was pumping through every person there, and the course was well suited for a beginner like me.  When I decided to take on this new gig, I thought I would just keep it local, but CrossVegas (and a decent finish) convinced me otherwise.  It wasn’t long before I had joined the other cool cats on Cal Giant Berry Farms for the cross season and had my Specialized S-Works TriCross packed up for my first USGP in Louisville, KY.  All things went well there and I left KY still buzzing about the whole cross thing, looking forward to more races.  The next weekend the Boulder Cup kicked my ass, but once again I was just happy to be racing cross, learning new skills, and having a wicked time doing it.  Next I was off to New Jersey for the next round of the USGP where I was confronted with new conditions I hadn’t yet experienced - those typical of cross - rain, lots of thick, sticky mud, and cold.  Now don’t get me wrong, I love some mud in the face, but I hadn’t yet tested my skills in these conditions.  Well, as ready as I was going to get for the conditions, I went out willing to take a few risks.  Mind you, I wasn’t racing for a podium spot or anything but I think that given my roadie background I held my ground (actually, I hit the mud many, many times) reasonably well.  And hey, I had a great time learning more skills and testing my limits once again.  Next up is the last round of the USGP in Portland and then Nationals the week after.  Hopefully I’ll be able to step it up a bit more at these last races of the season, but whether I do or not I’ve had a blast giving this cross thing a go and I am pretty damn sure that I’ll do it again next year.

So, I live in Ft Collins, CO, where there is some pretty spectacular mtn biking to be had.  I can pretty much say that since the end of August I have done more training on my mtb than I have on my road bike…and back then the road season wasn’t even over yet.  (I had to readjust to being on a road bike during the first few laps of the Priority Health Classic Crit back in Sept.)  I am loving the mtn bike right now.  It’s going to be tough to get me back on the road doing intervals this off season, that’s for sure.  I can ride out my back door and be on the trails in minutes. The trails around here aren’t easy - lots of baby heads, tough climbs, technical descents - so it took me awhile to get into a groove but I have seen my skills improve immensely this year.  One year ago I wasn’t even close to riding what I’m doing now, nor was I even thinking about trying most of it.  Now at least I am trying more stuff and trying it again if I don’t nail it the first time.  Me and my Specialized Epic have become good friends for sure.  And, hey, it’s the day before Thanksgiving and we were riding in shorts!!

And then there’s what I get paid to do (if you want to call it that) - road racing.  Been at it for 10 years now and it’s still where my heart is.  I suppose my professional career starting in Europe racing for the Danish-based, Team SATS.  Then I made the move back to the US to race with the now defunct TEAm Lipton in ‘06 and ‘07.  For ‘08 I moved to Aaron’s Pro Cycling Team and now that team has also gone belly up.  So, in ‘09 I will be racing with Team TIBCO, another power house team on the women’s circuit.  I’m looking forward to killing it on the road scene next year, that is if we can keep races on the calendar with the economy the way it is.  Anyway, look out for the TIBCO train coming through your area.

Have a great Thanksgiving, ya’ll!

(4 votes, average: 5 out of 5)

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Posted under CYCLOCROSS, ROAD BIKE