Colorado Cyclocross Videos

It seems like many bike racing blogs out there want to help tell you how to train, learn & be faster. Since endless mid-pack finishes are not much of a resume, I'll spare you all some training or race preparation advice on how to do well, and instead give you a guide on "how to DNS" one of your favorite cross races. This proven method will have you sitting on the sidelines, watching your teammates suffer in no time.

Pick one of your favorite races, say... well... The Boulder Series #2 Xilinx race on Saturday, shall we? Starting the week before, and try this:

Monday - Easy Ride in the afternoon. Start getting a sore throat in the evening. Is that a cold coming?

Tuesday - Wake up, Confirm the cold is HERE. Try to go to work, come home early. Sleep.

Wednesday - Stay home, sleep all day. Continue to feel worse.

Thursday - Feel almost human again, insure Head remains plugged up, work 1/2 day

Friday - Feel "better", insure crappy day at work, followed by 3+ hours of weed-whacking at Xilinx for race prep. Go to bed late after getting race stuff ready

Saturday - RACE DAY!!

Get up at 4:00AM, realize you feel like a piece of roadkill. String course tape starting at 5:00AM. Kit up, warm up. Realize you feel like the entire 35+ cat 4 field just ran you over. Remove Kit, sit down, start whining.

Guaranteed program. Works like a champ.

SO, Like it says, I DNSed at Xilinx. Bummed me out, as I really like that race, and since The Team was helping Lance & Tony at Without Limits Productions/Boulder Racing promote this stop on the Boulder Series, it REALLY makes it a hard one to miss. MAYBE I'll be good enough to make the jaunt up to Frisco this weekend. Nothing like ripping around at 9000 feet to make one feel "better" eh?

Seemed kind of dusty out there saturday. This picture says it all.

The Team had a great day, 6th and 11th in the beer-drinking-dads league, and 5th in the 45+. Maybe I should sit in the team tent more often...... Good ride guys, you make me proud!

SO, a bit of video, Lap 1 of the 35+ 4 race

And 2 parts of Lap 1 for the 35+ 3 race Early Lap 1

Later in Lap 1, 35+ 3s

Credit to Lisa Robinson for Photo & Video

ANNND they're off!

OK, got the first one in. Boulder CX Series #1 at the new Valmont Mountain bike park. Pretty cool course. Kinda flowy, lots of neat little berms & whoop-de dos. The BIG staircase, THAT I can do without, but all in all a good course and venue. Parking for a big race (Boulder cup...) is going to be a mess, that there is not enough of. Pretty good size fields, especially in the Juniors. 81 kids total, and 21 in the JM 13-14 alone. Hope that trend continues. 544 total riders came out. I guess about what you would expect for an early season, warm race smack in the heart of the bubble.

Dueled it out in the Beer-drinking-dad's league for my season opener. Not sure I much care for the early (9:25 am..) start. That alone may send me off to the 45s this year. My race came out about like most for me. good call-up, and faded from the 20ish range to my 36th place finish with 89 riders in the field. Top half, not too bad for a first effort. Not a lot of power on the fast parts, but did better on the hill than I usually do, so a bit of good stiff going in to the season. Just wish I could learn to run up those long run-ups faster.

Got a couple of videos for you, some "seatpost-cam" and a course-side for 35+ 4 and women's races.

35+4 - Seatpost cam - Lap 1

35+ 4 - Lap 1 at the "Belgian steps" the small staircase on the bottom of the course.

SW Open at the "5280 feet" BIG run-up.

SW 35+ at the 5280 run up.

Boulder Series 2 next Saturday, partially brought to you by the High Peaks Masters team, as we'll be helping the Boulder Racing Folks put this one on. We'll be out there all day for that one.

Oh, and am hearing that the other "not Boulder" race planned for Sunday, the Cross-Propz race at Rogers Grove has been cancelled due to "Unexpected Circumstance". Will be shortening up the race weekend, I guess.

Hiding

OK, my postings have been sparse. With Cross season HERE already, I should have been foaming at the mouth posting excited thoughts about the upcoming start to the season. While I AM quite pumped about my first foray for the year back into the joy that is racing around a field carrying a perfectly rideable bike, Life can sometimes put a dent in the creative writing time.

Had our first "real" Wednesday CX session up here in "not-Boulder" yesterday. a pile of 15 or so frothing folks, some of who had already popped their race cherry for the year. Good, fast fun in a cold drizzle. Makes you realize what's coming.

We even had the opportunity to speak to Officer Garcia about whether or not it's "OK" to ride a bicycle in a city park. Had a gentleman walking his dog who did NOT appreciate us being in the park, and informed us that you are NOT allowed to ride bikes on a sidewalk in said park. (This while his unleashed dog ran amok....) After finding that we were not immediately leaving after being informed that we "Can't do your F^&%ing Triathlon here" he resorted to the usual second step of the disgruntled dog walker. "I'm calling the cops!!"

Thus the nice chat with Officer Garcia. Turns out you CAN ride your bike in a city park. Who would have thought that? Strange, also seems like you CAN'T have your dog off leash in a city park. Wow....... Almost gives our lunch sessions the feel of legitimacy.

So, all tuned up, Psyched up, and if my bike quits breaking, ready for my season opener at Valmont Park Saturday. Now just to decide on Beer-Drinking Dads, or the old, fast 45s. Either way, THEN will be the time to see where one really stands. Lets do it.

T minus

Well, 4 days to Cross boys & girls.

At least the 90+ degree temperatures have gone away. Has been kinda hard to get in the mood for racing cross with the hair dryer hot days coming one after the other. Now, I don't think I'll be coming out for the opening day party. Might see about coming out Sunday to see where I stand in the early season pecking order, as I kinda like that Kiddie Prison course. I AM having trouble realizing it's time to get out & suffer already.

Have hardly done any CX practice, outside of a HPM team camp a couple of weeks ago in Fraser, so just not 100% "ready to cross" quite yet. But then again, the itch is there, and growing rapidly. For those of you fully chomping at the bit, and headed out... Go give them hell.

Rather than pounding out some cross hot laps over the long weekend, we opted to head up high with the big bike.

The American Lakes Cirque up by Cameron Pass makes for a great day trip, with great singletrack above tree line, and great scenery.

A great way to spend a clear, crisp fall day in the high country. Even get to share it with some of the larger locals.

A pretty sweet and relaxing way to "end" the summer, and get going on cross season. Guess it's time to start REALLY thinking cross....

One more thing on the ACA-USAC "debate". I think I get the Idea that not a lot of people care. In the last week or so, with over 100 blog visits here , only 9 people have cared enough to click on the survey. Less than 10% of visitors taking the time to click one or the other either shows that there is not much opinion, or probably more likely, the fact that no one cares that much either way. Interesting in it's own right. Either way, I plan on sharing that limited data wiht the ACA folks. Few more days to vote, if you care.