After Saturday's Psycowpath Capital City Challenge at Branched Oak Lake I sent out this tweet:
All old MTB demons exorcised. Good day - 2nd place. Jerry Hoff 1st.
It pretty much tells the story of the race. It WAS a good day - great people, great weather, twisty Nebraska singletrack, and a successful race. I hope one of these days I can actually beat Jerry. I was closer here than I have been but I still have some skills to work on. He still kicks my ass in the corners. I can out-power him but he gains it back plus some more in each turn.
There was another message in that Tweet. I think Troy Krause would get it, maybe some others. Two years ago I crashed in this race. I was trying to keep from being passed into last place, washed out in what is now referred to as "Jon Downey corner" and messed up my right shoulder. "Messed up" meaning dislocation, torn labrum, fractured glenoid, and torn bicep tendon. That was a bad day.
I really didn't think about the whole thing until I started pre-riding the course Friday afternoon. And, because I was so geeked out about it, I crashed, on my right shoulder. Damn.
"Well crap, is this the way its going to be?" I asked myself. No, dammit. HTFU already.
It took a bit to loosen up again. Then Paragon-buddy William Prann showed up and we rode a while together. Before I knew it I was loose, going fast, and having fun.
Its been a long road to get here - "here" being able to have fun riding with some ability. It wouldn't have happened without some really great support from my family and friends. And my wife. She doesn't get the whole racing thing because its just not in her to be competitive but she tries and she loves me. God only knows why.
Thank you, Love Bunny, for supporting me while I beat down the ghosts of failures past.
Sep 12, 2010
Aug 29, 2010
2010 Maskenthine XC Classic
After some pretty good success this year I was really looking forward to this race. I have a first, two seconds, a third, and a DNF so far this year and I was hungry for a win. If I didn't win, I wanted my team mate Jerry Hoff to win with me second. Jerry, like I have said here before, is a good guy who works hard. He is very modest about his abilities so its easy to be happy for him when he wins - even when he beats me.
The event itself couldn't have gone smoother. We had plenty of volunteers, plenty of riders, and nearly perfect weather.
Now, onto the race. Darrel Webb lined us up and started the 35+ and 45+ together. I honestly thought it would not work as well as it did but as it worked out some of the 35+ guys turned into good rabbits during the race. Dennis O'meara again tried to get the holeshot but Jerry and I stuck on his wheel. I felt good so I went for it getting into the singletrack first.
With Jerry right on my tail we dove into the first lap. We picked off some of the marathon riders who started two minutes ahead. Then we passed some riders in Cat 3, some were 35+ guys and some of the open class Cat 3 riders who were a minute ahead.
The problem is that Jerry is just *that* much faster than I am through the corners so he doesn't have to work as hard as I do. As we got about 3/4 through the lap he was getting itchy through the corners and tried to take me. I managed to keep him behind me and kicked up my pace.
When we got into the prairie section we caught up to teammate John Spray and passed him. Jerry saw his opening and took both of us. With John behind and pushing me I kept Jerry in sight until I made a stupid mistake. Through the technical section I hit a pedal on a log in an uphill section and lost my pedal. I had to dismount and run up the hill and do my best cyclocross remount to get going. The damage was done though and Jerry was 20+ seconds ahead of me.
And that is how it finished. Jerry was first and about 25 second ahead. John thankfully pushed me hard through the last couple of climbs when we were trading places with 14-year-old Micah Holmes. Speaking of Micah - he and his brother Jesse are ones to watch in the next few years. Those boys are tough.
Looking at the results from the rest of the day helped me make a decision, and do something I have really wanted to do. If I can schedule any more races this year they'll be as a Category 3 rider, but I'll be a Cat 2 in 2011. Jerry and I would have placed 2nd and 3rd in the Cat 2 race this year so its time.
I have some work to do - I need to focus on threshold efforts for next year and really hammer the handling skills.
But its time to start looking at cyclocross. I was pretty resigned with the fact that I was not going to be able to get a bike this year so CX might be out. But, Nick Cleveland offered to let me race on a Gary Fisher Presidio this fall - SWEET! So, full steam ahead and bring on the mud.
Jun 21, 2010
Ponca Avenged
Saturday morning Jerry Hoff and I drove to Ponca for the 2010 Ponca's Revenge Psycowpath race. Jerry, for those who don't know, is a stellar motocross racer since the mid-1970's and a lifetime athlete. He is a super nice guy as well.
Early this year I had no plans on riding this race, partly because I didn't plan on racing as much as I have been and partly because Ponca kicked by ass so badly the last time I raced there in 2008 its been a giant mental block. A huge, demoralizing monolith. But after having a bit of success this year I decided to give it a go.
Jerry and I rolled in right on schedule, got registered, and rolled a good warm-up lap. A last minute flat (stupid dried up sealant) was fixed in time to roll to the line and get sent off. I have some sort of phobia about being in front so I let Jerry go ahead and followed him into the singletrack.
We quickly made a gap on most of our field and started picking off riders who were dropping back off the groups that started before us. Up the first big climb my legs were really pumping up and by the time we got to the top I was maxed out.
Some traffic at the top forced me off the bike and on foot. I managed to get some oxygen back to my brain just in time to see Jerry disappear around a corner. That was the last I saw of him.I tried to catch him but never could get a bead on him and finally just rode hard so I could hold onto second place. He built a good gap on me as I did on the riders behind us.
It was great riding well and finishing well. I managed to nip Jerry at the line the last race but he was clearly stronger this day. It was also very cool to have EVCC take the top two spots in the race, and to have Dan and Clayton also podium in their races.
What to do different? Not much in the way of fitness other than really train the climbing. The rest is coming along nicely and is head and shoulders above any past efforts. Tactically I need to get over the fear of leading and just go for it.
Most importantly, I am no longer a slave to the fear of a park. Ponca doesn't own me anymore.
Onward and upward.
Early this year I had no plans on riding this race, partly because I didn't plan on racing as much as I have been and partly because Ponca kicked by ass so badly the last time I raced there in 2008 its been a giant mental block. A huge, demoralizing monolith. But after having a bit of success this year I decided to give it a go.
Jerry and I rolled in right on schedule, got registered, and rolled a good warm-up lap. A last minute flat (stupid dried up sealant) was fixed in time to roll to the line and get sent off. I have some sort of phobia about being in front so I let Jerry go ahead and followed him into the singletrack.
We quickly made a gap on most of our field and started picking off riders who were dropping back off the groups that started before us. Up the first big climb my legs were really pumping up and by the time we got to the top I was maxed out.
Some traffic at the top forced me off the bike and on foot. I managed to get some oxygen back to my brain just in time to see Jerry disappear around a corner. That was the last I saw of him.I tried to catch him but never could get a bead on him and finally just rode hard so I could hold onto second place. He built a good gap on me as I did on the riders behind us.
It was great riding well and finishing well. I managed to nip Jerry at the line the last race but he was clearly stronger this day. It was also very cool to have EVCC take the top two spots in the race, and to have Dan and Clayton also podium in their races.
What to do different? Not much in the way of fitness other than really train the climbing. The rest is coming along nicely and is head and shoulders above any past efforts. Tactically I need to get over the fear of leading and just go for it.
Most importantly, I am no longer a slave to the fear of a park. Ponca doesn't own me anymore.
Onward and upward.
May 28, 2010
What I have learned in 2010
Its almost June, so 2010 is starting to show some age. Sort of like me, I guess. I always figure time isn't wasted if you learned something - did I learn anything this year? Some...
My recovery well has a finite depth. But each time I dredge the bottom, it gets a little deeper.
My kids are going to grow up, whether I pay attention or not.
I have no business riding in the front on a group ride. Ever.
Grandchildren, even unborn ones, change your life forever.
Some people have too much power.
Most people who have ANY power have no idea how to use it. Or care.
Whenever you think things are going good and you're smart, life is going to change.
People respond to the smallest of changes. Good and bad.
My manners really suck lately.
If I am riding alongside Devin, its because he is going slow.
The word "cancer" scares the hell out of me.
I like going to bike races, mostly because of the people who also like going to bike races.
I have to remember that even though some things in my job are routine to me, they are life-changing, or ending, events for others. Generally if I'm there, someone is having a bad day.
I wish my body had the ability my mind desires.
I wish I had the intestinal fortitude to make my body do what my mind desires.
I am not always right. Even if I was right, I may be the only one who needs to know.
The dog can pee pretty much anywhere he wants, as long as he keeps acting that happy to see me every time I come home.
Dogs have no concept of time.
If you rely on most people to do the right thing, you're going to be disappointed.
Just because I didn't answer the phone doesn't mean your call isn't important to me.
I have picked up a great set of friends. Its a short list, but an important list.
Most importantly the last one:
Just like your teeth, ignore your wife and she'll go away.
.
My recovery well has a finite depth. But each time I dredge the bottom, it gets a little deeper.
My kids are going to grow up, whether I pay attention or not.
I have no business riding in the front on a group ride. Ever.
Grandchildren, even unborn ones, change your life forever.
Some people have too much power.
Most people who have ANY power have no idea how to use it. Or care.
Whenever you think things are going good and you're smart, life is going to change.
People respond to the smallest of changes. Good and bad.
My manners really suck lately.
If I am riding alongside Devin, its because he is going slow.
The word "cancer" scares the hell out of me.
I like going to bike races, mostly because of the people who also like going to bike races.
I have to remember that even though some things in my job are routine to me, they are life-changing, or ending, events for others. Generally if I'm there, someone is having a bad day.
I wish my body had the ability my mind desires.
I wish I had the intestinal fortitude to make my body do what my mind desires.
I am not always right. Even if I was right, I may be the only one who needs to know.
The dog can pee pretty much anywhere he wants, as long as he keeps acting that happy to see me every time I come home.
Dogs have no concept of time.
If you rely on most people to do the right thing, you're going to be disappointed.
Just because I didn't answer the phone doesn't mean your call isn't important to me.
I have picked up a great set of friends. Its a short list, but an important list.
Most importantly the last one:
Just like your teeth, ignore your wife and she'll go away.
.
May 2, 2010
I love it when a plan comes together
Let me preface this by saying that I AM talking about a Cat 3 45+ mountain bike race, so in the grand scheme of things, the subject of this post is really not that important. Ok, that was the disclaimer, now on to the post.
After years of struggling, self-doubt, crashing, half-assing, and generally wussing I out; I finally decided to HTFU and give this bike racing thing my all. Either I was going to be a racer or not, once and for all.
Since last fall I have carefully planned by workouts, diet, etc working toward yesterday. I was very concerned all winter that no matter what I did there just was no potential there and that when May 1 rolled around I'd be right back there at race's end dangling off the back.
Then the first outdoor group ride rolled around and I hung in there with the group when I would have normally gotten dropped. Maybe the training helped I thought, but its too early to tell.
Then I hit up the crit at Pioneer Park, part of the le Tour de Husker. Aside from a clipping in issue, I had a great race. I was starting to have a bit of hope.
I settled into what I have determined to be a decent routine earlier this week as far as food, rest, etc and got prepared for the Psycowpath race at Swanson that I determined was going to be my litmus test. I was able to fight off the crippling fear and doubt that usually comes with an event like this, and left the house race-morning feeling good and - dare I say? - ready.
I got a good warm-up, chatted, and eventually found myself on the start line. Ok, here I am. Now what?
After an unexpected starting procedure, I found myself picking through a glut of riders trying to get a good place going into what I knew was going to be a crowded singletrack. Teammate Jerry Hoff and I were riding together and started picking off a few slower riders and decided we were the leaders in our age group.
We worked up to a group of riders and were trying to get around them when one of them crashed in a choke point, I tried to go around but hit some loose logs and went down. I lost a couple places but managed to get rolling again and back on pace. I eventually worked my way past all the riders who went by when I crashed and caught Jerry right at the finish line and, well dammit, I won.
I was in the top 15 or so of all the cat 3 combined riders with a competitive finish time. I know I can do better and am very excited that I wasn't red-lining the entire time either mentally or physically. It truly was a good race for me. It was what it should be - fun. And, my plan had worked, which was quite satisfying.
So, am I a bike racer? Yeah, I suppose I am. Do I have designs on bumping up a category in road and MTB? Yes. Several guys have said that it looks like I have the potential but that I should wait and get some more races in me first.
Yeah, I can do that.
After years of struggling, self-doubt, crashing, half-assing, and generally wussing I out; I finally decided to HTFU and give this bike racing thing my all. Either I was going to be a racer or not, once and for all.
Since last fall I have carefully planned by workouts, diet, etc working toward yesterday. I was very concerned all winter that no matter what I did there just was no potential there and that when May 1 rolled around I'd be right back there at race's end dangling off the back.
Then the first outdoor group ride rolled around and I hung in there with the group when I would have normally gotten dropped. Maybe the training helped I thought, but its too early to tell.
Then I hit up the crit at Pioneer Park, part of the le Tour de Husker. Aside from a clipping in issue, I had a great race. I was starting to have a bit of hope.
I settled into what I have determined to be a decent routine earlier this week as far as food, rest, etc and got prepared for the Psycowpath race at Swanson that I determined was going to be my litmus test. I was able to fight off the crippling fear and doubt that usually comes with an event like this, and left the house race-morning feeling good and - dare I say? - ready.
I got a good warm-up, chatted, and eventually found myself on the start line. Ok, here I am. Now what?
After an unexpected starting procedure, I found myself picking through a glut of riders trying to get a good place going into what I knew was going to be a crowded singletrack. Teammate Jerry Hoff and I were riding together and started picking off a few slower riders and decided we were the leaders in our age group.
We worked up to a group of riders and were trying to get around them when one of them crashed in a choke point, I tried to go around but hit some loose logs and went down. I lost a couple places but managed to get rolling again and back on pace. I eventually worked my way past all the riders who went by when I crashed and caught Jerry right at the finish line and, well dammit, I won.
I was in the top 15 or so of all the cat 3 combined riders with a competitive finish time. I know I can do better and am very excited that I wasn't red-lining the entire time either mentally or physically. It truly was a good race for me. It was what it should be - fun. And, my plan had worked, which was quite satisfying.
So, am I a bike racer? Yeah, I suppose I am. Do I have designs on bumping up a category in road and MTB? Yes. Several guys have said that it looks like I have the potential but that I should wait and get some more races in me first.
Yeah, I can do that.
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