Wrap it up

And that's a wrap for the cyclocross season. I missed my last race due to a weird onset of nausea and vertigo in the car on the way to the race. Looking pale with skin like a dead fish, I had to pull over and let Selena drive because I felt drunk and thought I was gunna spew. Very strange. Tails tucked I returned home to take a nap and had nightmares about missing the race...fuckin' A.
On a better note this season boasted better results than last year; even though I was mortgaging all my results by packing in base miles for a strong road season and not doing ANY specific training for cyclcross. Even with six hour rides under my belt and tons of tempo riding the results improved. I'm stoked for a big leap next year...the Black Knight cometh! Got a jump start on the weights and a new kickass core routine nailed down. Should be putting Leonidas to shame by the spring.
We had one of our biggest snow falls for this early in the year. Jeremiah and I drove up to Skyline Drive and poached the AT for some amazing cross country skiing. Its only every couple years you get enough snow to ski the Blue Ridge...a narrow window and we nailed it. Then the next day, it was gone...phantom mist. Pics to come soon

cycloxxxxxx

Made a west/east excursion from base camp this weekend to West 'by God' VA and Fooftown to do a little grass bike racing action. Ending this three week training block with 2 races had my legs feeling a bit like rotten peaches but I toughed it out...after ambitions to drop out of both races since the power profile had taken a vay-kay and I'd rather snuggle in the mud for a nap. Rocked it out in a small field at the West VA Cyclocross Series race #4: Blackwater cross. In the home town of none other than Nick 'spider-monkey, pro' Waite. His fan club contingency was disappointed that he did not show...but that means more pay out for me! Layed the smack/payback for Iron Cross on old man Gunnar Shogran, no hard feelings though, and took second behind local Cannondale pro Jason Cyr, who, to syke me out, was riding wheelies around the course and bunny hopping the barriers. After taking the g/f to legendary Sirianni's Cafe for pizza we departed Davis with some decent cash and swag. Check out the pics

Next day found the legs in worse of a way than Saturday. The course was a disaster too. Momma Ruth from C-ville loves making a tight, twisty, steep cross course. Add a week of rain to that and you've got 4 run-ups and the barriers per lap...gruesome. As per usual this season I was not expecting a call-up. Then when my name was called for a front row spot I was taken aback! Launching into the hole shot 4th wheel I was so excited that I hit a tree, front wheel landed in a hole and I crashed...finding myself near the back as this photo can attest 8-( (see Notre Dame bell ringer at the top of the hill) I dont know how it happened given my flat legs but I fought my way into 8th place, one spot out of the money and a worse result than my Urban cross last year (7th)...but the field this year was twice as big and twice as stacked. Guess I'm riding faster, there's some good news.

This week is for some R&R. Did some bushwhack hiking with Jeremiah at Fridley's Gap yesterday and a small excursion to Hidden Rocks today. Sometimes a hike is just the thing to rest the mind as well as the body...when the thought of an easy hour spin in the cold, grey, wet just isn't thrilling. Test this weekend, and probably a race.

PS- New Cannondale Cross bike is the shit!!!

Monterey Jack

It takes some balls to grab a map (or not) and go into the West Va. mountains without any knowledge of the true terrain, road conditions, weather, or whether roads which exist on the map actually exist...and finding out roads not on the map actually exist. I had the idea for this epic excursion after the ride to Monterey Curtis and I explored back in March...except this time it would be bigger, meaner, and more wild....with plenty of bitching, wandering, and wondering in between. So the ride started out the traditional Churchville to Monterey loop...except we went beyond over Monterey Mt. into Hightown when the rain started and Jeremiah began to cry (though he did ride 8 hours the day before). Looping back near Snowy Mt and the town of Bluegrass we got lost trying to find a way over Jack Mt. The route on the map was a phantom to trap bold travlers in the hillcountry....Deliverence style. We came across a local in an abandoned auto shop (true story) who told us how to get over the pass in a thick, backcountry accent which took all three of us to decipher. It came out to be the best climb of the day with the most amazing views back East. Then heading over Simmions Mountain (with the help of another local) there was a huge, rickety, spooky oak tree with the bodies of at least 10 groundhogs hanging by the neck from the branches....I shit you not. Next time I swear Ill take a picture.
Then finally back over Shaws Ridge and the backside of Reddish Knob to the truck parked at the base of Tilgman Rd. Monterey Jack or Jackson's Revenge...easily the most epic ride/loop explored by the Pros and pro-lites of Rocktown.

Overview of the mountains

GWNF mini climbs
Shenandoah Mt
Shaw's Ridge
Bullpasture Mt.
Jack Mt.
Monterey Mt.
Jack Mt. again
Simmions Mt.
Shaws Ridge
Shenandoah Mt.

Iron Cross VII

So I was skeptical about this race at first, not being a true cross race, nor a road race, nor a mountain bike race, just some bastard of the three. However Iron Cross became one of the coolest races Ive ever done. Special shout to the promoters, organizers, and sponsors who make it happen year after year!
After a warm week in the valley (80-85 degrees) I arrived at Michoux State Forest with little more than summer cycling gear, t-shirt, jeans, a pillow and a blanket. Jeremiah and I crashed in a cabin with 10 other dudes. As the night progressed the temps dropped the low 30's, freezing the morning dew on the course tape. I had a sleepless night of shivering and daring not to move or go out to pee. My bunk mate didnt seem to have a problem waking up 6 or 7 times during the night to go pee. He would put on his Sidi Dominators and hoof around the cabin like a house broken pig, waking everyone over and over. What the hell man?
In the morning I had no idea what to expect. The talk of the night was pacing yourself as to not explode half way through. But when the gun went off it was full on through the cross course and onto the fire roads. I started a good 6 rows back like a jackass and had to fight a hard battle to work my way up the lead group about 15 miles in. When we hit the first section of single track everything exploded and little contingents of 2 or 3 guys were spit out the other end, eventually finding our way back together to continue the chase. Miles and miles, lots of rocks, 2 powerline run ups and 6,000 ft of climbing later I attacked my group leading into the cross course, jumped the last set of barriers to finish 6th in the Elite Men. A good result after a slow start to the season. Jeremiah took home the win

Dallas

Back here in Dallas for 4 days of crits, culminating with the State crit championship. Good stuff. Although the riding sux i like the climate here more than Austin, its greener, just as flat, and dosent have the lung-burning, sinus imploding allergies that seem to plague me in Austin. Going for a spin with teammate Steve Dodge to get the legs primed.

Dasypus novemcinctus

The common nine-banded armadillo. These little fuckers are everywhere in TX. They have replaced the possum and groundhog as the leading roadside carrion. Apparently their range borders the Mississippi river but I definitely counted at least 10 alongside the road starting 100 miles east of Nashville TN. Who knows.

Today Fawley took me on part of the "13 up" ride. I have never, ever seen hills as steep as this. Some border on 30% and since it never snows here, I guess thats legal. If I didnt have a 27 Id have to walk up some of them. They are not little steep rollers, they are 2-5 minute suffer-fests in the house of pain. I dont know how they go out and "race ride" all of them without falling to pieces. Apparently the 13 Up ride is why Austin racers are so much better than Dallas racers. Kind of like how Rocktown is so much better than the Foof. Similar principles.

Im still getting over the "Blair Flu" the team picked up after Joe Martin. Heart rate is a bit high but that may also be the gnarly south Texas allergies. Either way hope it passes soon. Dont need a repeat of January-April. fuck

Houston Grand Prix

Two days of hard hard Texas crits. These are (I'm told) some of the hardest crits in the country with some of the best crit racers. 120 dudes started on the mile-ish long course shaped like a spear head. Our average speed was 30mph. With nasty cross winds guttering the entire field at times I felt like I was motor-pacing off a freight train. Hard to move up with so many guys but I managed until 2 laps I was sprinting up the right to help Fawley with a lead-out when an epic crash took out the entire front-middle of the field, at least 30 guys hit the deck. I rode my front wheel to a stop and had to shuttle my way around the carnage. With a break of 11 up the road, the rest of the field split into pieces, shook up and weary, riding to the finish. I came in 44th...blah. Fawley won the "field sprint" for 12th. Id rather be road racing.

Kyle sent me pics of the SDS ride back home. epic