Psychlofest 2009

Well, I am still racing around a bit this fall, just sort of notched things down a bit to allow for a busier fall semester and training focus shift.  My newest fitness goal involves achieving a more well rounded physique, so I am hitting the weights pretty hard, keeping just enough bike fitness to be somewhat competitive. 

I don't have many local group training options, so I have re-constructed my basement into an elaborate pain-cave for workouts.

I did attend the 2nd Dice cyclocross event (results/info).  The guys that compete in cross seem to be pretty strong at it.  I surmise that cross has been around long enough, at this point, to have filtered out the roadies and mountain bikers who have tried it, but opted to take the season off due to dissapointing results.

 My results are sort of disappointing, however I thoroughly appreciate the training aspects of the races, so will continue to race a handful of times each fall.

There is a three way tie for 2nd in the Master's 30+ DICE series, so I am hoping to be able to enter the other two races in the series, and break the tie in my favor. 

This Psyclofest race is always unique. This year it included a very muddy and steep run up that brought most of us to a slippery crawl toward the end of the race.  Here I can be seen right after the terrain/grade forced me to dismount and begin slogging up the slope.

Vandecross - DICE Cyclocross series

Well, I think I had a good time at the Vandecross event in Moline, IL, not sure.  I can say I was completely wiped out afterwards, which, oddly enough, is reward enough to justify my attendance.  I always feel good after a hard race effort.

I decided to try to see how I could do in the Master's 30 + series this year, having gotten 3rd overall in the Cat 3/4 last year.  Watching the cat 3/4 race, I was sort of relieved, because the lead guys seemed to be really tearing it up.  Ron Bridal, Kevin McConnell and Jeff Bradley took the first three positions.

Cyclocross is a great workout and a very refreshing change from the road season.  Having said that, it can be discouraging trying to compete against some of these guys who just seem to be competing at a completely different level.  This might explain why only 4 people lined up for the 'A' race... the Cat 1,2,3,4 open.   This race paid out the most and was the most presitgious, yet maybe no one really felt capable of competing against the likes of guys like Brian Eppen.  Depending on who shows up, the top three paying places are usually taken by cyclocross phenoms, leaving the other 95% of the cyclocross racing population to ride around hoping to avoid getting lapped.  Well, that race paid back 5 spots, so they all got paid just for entering... nice.

Well, I ended up 4th out of 5 (masters 30+) and 6th out 10 (masters 30/40+).  The Cat 1/2/3 guys started about 45 seconds ahead of us, and the masters 50/60+ guys started about 45 seconds after us, so the results are a bit confusing.  Steve Bullerman won the Masters 30+, Bruce Grell won the Masters 40+ and Brian Eppen won the Open event with Nate Kullborn in second.  The guys in my race were in great shape and good competitors, so the series will be every bit as challenging and rewarding as I had hoped (ok, maybe a bit more challenging, but oh well).

mountain biking or cyclocross?

Not really a tough decision for 'roadie' types, including myself.  The Sugarbottom Scramble, which was slated to be my mountain bike racing debut, was unfortunately cancelled last week and moved to this Sunday.  Much to the dismay of the organizers, this conflicts with an already scheduled psychlocross race that is part of the DICE series...Old Towne Vandecross, in Moline, Ill (just across the river).

This scenario reminds me of why I have never taken to racing a mountain bike.  I would have to drive to a trail system just to ride, and the trails are often closed to preserve their integrity.  It also seems like a huge advantage to be familiar with the race course, a luxury that I would only have for the sugarbottom event. Having said that, I will plan on racing the sylvan island stampede next spring, just to see what racing a mountian bike is like.  Who knows, maybe I am good at it.

Well, I am contemplating not racing cross this season and doing other training , but don't think I have the inner will power to literally sit at home knowing others are jumping over hurdles, riding through mud/sand, and running their bikes up hills.  So, most likely I will be pegging it at the park this Sunday.

The main question for me is Cat 3/4 or Master's 30+.  The Cat 3/4 is 15 minutes shorter and pays out better, but is usually  filled with Cat 2/3 roadies who can't stand the possibility of being lapped (including myself), so they enter this shorter event, which also doesn't include some of those regional cyclocross phenoms that spoil the event by being virtually impossible to beat. This year that seems to be names like bailey, eppen, nichols, fitzpatrick, kullborn, etc.

Sugarbottom, DICE Cyclocross or bench presses in my basement...  hmm?

Fall workouts

What is up with Lance lately?...

He must be doing some major upper body cross-training.  I guess that sort of reminds me that this is a good time of the year to get back to the ol' push-up and circuit training routines.  It can be frustrating to try and maintain the same amount of outdoor mileage as in the spring and summer, so mixing in some upper-body work and indoor cardio routines is great for the mind and the soul.

Well, most likely doing the sugar bottom scramble mountain bike race this Sunday near Iowa City, IA.  No pressure there, as I have never raced my Mountain Bike before.  It is old and will probably rattle apart by the end of the race (my bike not my body).