I am the Champions!

Early in the year, I decided that I wanted to do more in 2011 than 2010. I also wanted to keep doing a lot of different kinds of riding and make the most of my bike collection. Hence my 5 grand goal – 1000 miles on 5 different bikes. One bike to look pretty and have hard to replace components, one to carry all sort of stuff, one bike to not have anything stolen off it, one to ride on anything, and a last bike to ride anything with a single gear.

Can you guess which is which (note: I snapped a frame this year)

Well I did it today. I am super proud to make this happen and possibly more on that later. More importantly, a New Years Eve day extravaganza of my favorite SF rides is in the works – likely culminating in a butter lap with my panniers full of beer (at least to start). Come join me.

Fastest 45 Minutes

If you were at the Bay Area Superprestige at Candlestick Point and heard a loud noise about 45 seconds after the SS B race started, it was probably this:

How to race 45 minutes in 45 seconds

It’s not enough to succeed, others must fail

Maybe their chain comes off in the first minute of the race. Perhaps it’s a flat half way through the race. They could always pre-reg and just fail to show up. Inevitably there are moments in cyclocross when someone else’s failure ends in your success. In my case, that is certainly relative. The slower you are, the more you relish these moments. Trying my best to race single speed this year has meant the competition is fast. Seriously- fast.

 

gazelle v. lion – lion fairs slightly better

Five Grand in 2011

In 2010, I owned 4 bikes. Through a bit of random luck and a last second push to get in a few miles before new years, I managed to ride over 800 miles on each of my bikes. I liked this a lot, and it largely happened on accident. I have 5 bikes now and decided I might as well try to ride at least 1,000 miles on each in 2011. Here’s how I’m doing:

The gray line is how much I should be riding if everything were consistent year round. Obviously, they’re not. I’m behind schedule for now, but the prime riding months are here. For the benefit of who ever reads this I’ll occasionally update my progress to enable proper heckling.

Heckle Away!

Mudfest ’10

For some reason, the Monkey Cross cyclocross series in Santa Rosa is known for mud. Monkey cross #2 showed us all what that really means. Mudfest, or whatever you’d prefer to call it, was a little bit muddy:

Just one fine mud pit, just meant for spectating

Dress for Success

Nothing says success like a shirt and tie. Put it on a bike and it’s time for a Halloween race. My Cross Crusade Halloween ‘kit’ straddled that fine line between aggressive aerodynamics and unquestionable professionalism. When it comes down to it, you can’t argue with results, which is really what mattered on this day. One of my goals for the season – a top half Clydesdale finish – was on the line. My last chance.

Tell me – what is it going to take to get you into this vehicle? (photo via @itsdanno)

Happy Anniversary

Last year’s Cross Crusade #5 was my first ever cyclocross race, and despite a strong desire to line up in the Clydesdale category, I rode as a Beginner. Thanks to the wonder of cyclocross, I still felt like I was about to die. So when preparing for this year’s cross season and our trip to Oregon, I was determined to race as a Clydesdale and actually put together a top half finish. If only it were that easy…

you just got faced (photo via @itsdanno)

Pilgrimaging: it’s not just for fanatics anymore

Ok, so we are basically fanatics. Less focused on “God” per se, more so bikes and beer. After last year’s amazing cyclocross inspired trip up to Oregon, we’ve basically been planning this years trip for the better part of a year. Taking a full week off this year meant more racing (we’re faster), more beer (we love carb loading), and more time to soak it all in.

it’s pretty here (photo care of @itsdanno)

Oh, and soak we did, highlights include: Races (Cross Crusade #5 & #6), Cross Rides (Forest Park/Leif Erikson Dr, Hagg Lake Single Track), Shops (Sellwood, River City), Breweries/Pubs  (McMenamins Roadhouse, Rogue Astoria, Old Market, Deschutes, Old Lompoc, Hopworks, John’s Market, Lucky Lab, Hair of the Dog, Heater Allen), and misc Portland goodness (Powell’s, Stumptown Coffee, Voodoo donut).

More to come…

Why are you running?

I don’t want to be running. I’m horrible at it. Ok mystery heckler in the crowd? Sorry, I don’t have time to explain the logistics to you (it’s a race). Achy knees, side cramps, lungs that are simply cooked. I repeat: I don’t want to be running. Unfortunately that low curb wasn’t interested in my running ability and it frankly didn’t want my rear tire to be inflated (inconsiderate). Impressive in a certain way, this was the first flat in my cyclocross “career”. Occurring just before the pin-wheel of barriers on the first lap at Santa Rosa’s Monkey Cross #1, it’s simultaneous poor and excellent timing. I had felt strong and was making moves. In hindsight, a little too aggressively as I pinch flatted on the curb coming in with too much speed (or not quite enough grace). But I am lucky…

May as well shoulder it, because it’s time to run (photo care of Kristine via Daniel Hobe)

If it’s comfortable, you’re doing it wrong

This was advise I gave to fellow Mission Cyclists who were contemplating their first cyclocross race. And by that criteria, I had an amazing race. The Lion of Fairfax, a one-off race the same day as Biketoberfest, was supposed to be a small field and low-key warm up (especially with a Pilarcitos Super Prestige race the next day). After a top-half finish at Folsom, a 54 of 76 finish was less than encouraging.

post race – just because you’re race number is low, doesn’t make your placing low…