Settling in

The weekend brought on more cyclocross racing. Saturday the race was an easy pedal from the house at my daughters old pre-school. The course had a long paved section that sent me into the red zone each time up it. The back side had a killer lock your brakes up descent back to some rolling single track. Ended up 13th after getting caught by two guys with a lap to go. I put in a huge effort with 3 laps to go in an attempt to hold off the chasers but I cracked with a lap to go and ended up behind them. No worries. Drank some Go-Fast had watched the rest of the suffering. Pictures to be posted soon.

Sunday? What was I thinking. I wanted to have a great race because I would have liked to break into the top ten and garner some good points. I was lolly gagging around at the start and ended up in the backrow. The start was narrow and I ended up staying there until the first set of turns. Then gaps opened up and then I just settled in to reel as many people back as I could. The last lap I shifted to the little ring and dropped my chain on the big runup and DS made up some time. I didn't recover and he beat me by about 200 yards.

The next few weeks the racing heats up in and around the house. Time to settle in and start racing like I know I can.

Peace and Happy Halloween....

Weekend cross races

The racing this weekend was great, even though my legs were somewhere else. The course was a good one for me but nothing seemed to feel right. The run-ups were hard and my legs felt like lead running. It is all good! I was able to get out and hangout with old and new friends.

I did not race on Saturday because I went to Veloswap and ended up ordering a new bike. WaltWorks out of Boulder is building me up a new 29er mountain bike. This will be my TransIowa bike, can't wait. No good purchases other than a set of pedals for use on my old mtn bike.

I will now have to purge the bike stuff in the garage before I receive anything new.

Into the suffering

The CX season is in full swing. I have raced 6 times and have managed to grab some ACA BAR points. I am using this 'cross season as a spring board for TransIowa which is in April. I have been logging good miles with the lights and plan to continue to ride through the winter. This weekend is Veloswap so my racing may be curtailed but will try to sneak one race in.

But I need to remain focused on the 'cross thing as I have been asked to join a Team. I submitted my cycling resume to their pres and hope to hear something soon.

I will post a TransIowa update with my training plan soon.

Peace!

The start of the season

So, it has been awhile since I posted anything of substance on this site. I have no grand plans for this posting, other than to prepare for the onslaught of cyclocross season. The race in Breck was just a mere warm-up and weekend to spend having fun.

From this weekend forward there is a opportunity to race at least once. I plan on racing as much as the family allows. The training has been strained over the past few weeks with sick kids and family from out of town. But this is the time of the season I really enjoy racing so I will be out there knocking bars in one of the old guy classes.

Not to look to far forward into the future but I am planning on racing TransIowa in April. My training schedule for the next 6 months will be intense. I am so looking forward to it. I will post my plans and use this as a training log.

Peace to those who actually read this.....

In Action..

First race of the season was last weekend. Boy did I suffer with a bout of bronchitis and the thin Breckenridge air. I completed two races.

Early on trying to hold of a charging pack - okay only a couple back of the packers.
All alone negotiating the barriers at the start/finish area.

Cyclocross

My cross bike is back together and ready for a season of racing......

Racing into middle age

Well, I haven't had time to post anything since my little morning excursion a week ago. Since then I have done 4 races and completed all of them. Some more stellar than others but I was out there. A dear friend always reminds me that showing up is half the battle, the other half is what you do prior (ie training).

Quick Recap
Salida
The road race was HARD! really hard. I was able to hang on for 1/3 a lap! The initial climb was wicked and the pack blew apart quickly, at least that was my perspective. I finished about 30 minutes behind the leader. On Sunday, the criterium was in downtown and it rocked! I felt awesome, even after the battering I gave myself the day before. I hung it all out within the first lap and even got a little gap but the pack reeled me in and spit me right out the back. I did ride with a local guy for the remainder of the race and we just did mindless loops. What fun!!!

Fed Center Race
This is a great circuit race only 3 miles from home. I preperation for the event, I went to a swim beach and laid in the sun. I got shelled but was able to keep the peloton within sight until 2 laps to go. The legs have never screamed so loud.

Bannock St Crit
What a fun event! The legs felt great and my mind was at ease. Just stayed with the pack until the sprint at the end where I sat up and soft pedaled in. My legs had no snap so no sense risking an accident. Rode to and from the event which I logged 68 miles for the day.

Not bad for a 40 year old!

Morning Spin

Took an easy morning noodle around Bear Creek Park and was able to watch the sunrise. Ready for the weekend, time to race. Escape mediocrity!

Good Bye Friend

17 years of service!

Weekend ahead

I have been thinking alot about the race this weekend. Not from the stand point of nerves or of my ability, but from the state of racing in CO. I consider myself a decent racer and tend to have a positive outlook. Since moving to CO, some of that has changed. Living in Austin I was the president of my bike club and rode with a great group of teammates. I have tried many times to join a club or team to no avail. A lot of that has to do with the fact I am not finishing in the top 10 in every race or that I don't toe up to the line every weekend. Just plain frustrating! I believe I have talents that any team would like to have. Oh well!

High country excursion

Headed to the mountains for a weekend out of the heat. I think everybody had the same idea. The trails were packed with avid cyclists knocking out miles climbing Vail pass. I rode from Breck to Vail, roughly 63 miles on Saturday. It was a pleasant way to spend the day. Sunday brought a grueling but short ride up to Hoosier pass in cold, damp conditions.

As I get older the rides I do in the mountains really help calm my soul. The expansiveness of the wilderness with the crisp air and clear blue sky make me realize that life will always be good. On that note: HAPPY BIRTHDAY to ME!!!!!

The worst has happened!

To all cyclist their morning hit of coffee is what gets them out the door. Well, I have to say my coffee maker is gasping for breath. It has been part of my cycling routine for going on 17 years and has traveled from Marshalltown, IA to Houston, TX to Austin, TX to Denver, CO. Looking for a new coffee maker is harder than buying a bicycle. The technology has changed so much to complete such a simple task. It will probably take me the better part of the next few weeks to purchase a replacement.

I was able to get out for a easy spin this morning without a stout cup of joe. Heading off to the mountains for some long miles and to escape the heat.

Climbing back into shape

Rode in the heat, climbing over 7 miles up along highway 40. The legs were weary from doing hill repeats the day before but I felt solid. Hopefully Salida will be a good race for me.

Heat!

Boy is it HOT! I am suppose to go and do a long climb this evening. 104 on the back deck at its hottest.

I'll update the climb later......

The bike feels good..

I am back at it on the bike and it is feeling good. I did race this past weekend and that did not feel good, but I haven't been racing every weekend since March like the rest of the pack. I am planning on doing a road race in Salida. I am stoked!

It has been a hectic July and the rest of the summer looks to be the same.

Thanks

Pictures

I have figured out the whole picture thing and now will be posting more.



Freewheeling ride in Austin, Texas.













Matt at Michigan Bluff, mile 55!

Looking strong coming out of the aid station.

Is recovery overrated?

Tried to ride the Firecracker 50 two days ago and had a bad day. I am still reeling from the fact that I was unable to finish. The legs had no juice!! They are still tweaked from the effort with my brother. Will spend the next few days trying to recover so I can salvage what is left of the racing season.

Out on the Trail....

Man do I look like crap......

Working the kinks out

Rode today for only an hour. Man the legs are feeling tweaked!! Little pains abound but they at least felt strong and was able to spin some life into them. Four days to my next race, the Firecracker 50 in Breckenridge. A fifty mile mountain bike adventure through some great country in and around Breck. I am hoping to hit the five hour mark but I will have to see how the legs feel Monday.

My dad and his wife are out for the Forth and we are planning a traditional picnic right down to the potato salad and hotdogs. Should be a great weekend.

Pain, Pain go away

Painful! That is all I can say. It was both mentally and physically draining to be running for 13 hours throught night with someone who pushed his body to far earlier in the day. Lots of prep talks, cussing, shin splint, and pity parties but he finished 100 miles in 27 hours 37 minutes. Thats a 30 minutes faster than last year. Pictures in a day or two.

My legs ache but in a good way and should be back on the bike in a day or two. It was good to get home and eat all the cookies in the house! To sleep in this morning was the best feeling in the world as I have risen at 4 am the last two evenings I got to sleep. I learned more about myself this trip and hopefully it will make me a better person.

The ups and downs of life bring many joys and disappointments but one has to remember that we are here for only a short period of time and we must push on.

Thanks for reading........