Matt Shriver

“This is the starting line, not the finish line.”-M.C.

I got the bill from USA Cycling today for the Cross Worlds trip and it is a hefty one. My trusty good old Visa came through again, but you can help me out with some coffee sales or donation to the Cross Worlds fund. I would be very greatful for any help. You can still purchase coffee here on my site.  Thanks to everyone for the emails and the phone calls.  I am psyched!

This fall I was a bit uncertain about what I wanted to do with my personal cycling career. It has been a tough year for all of us, not just in the cycling world, but with all business as the global economy continues to struggle(except the oil companies). Many of us were left hunting for jobs when they were few and far between. When I found out that I wouldn’t be re-signed with a pro team for 2009, I was totally bummed out. I wanted to walk away like a quitter. Call the Wha-mbulance! The idea that I would no longer be racing on the road was pretty devastating. I stuck with my normal Fall ritual of racing on the cyclocross scene domestically as I tried to find a job with other teams. I love Cross and it is so much fun and seemed like a good way to end the career.
When I was thinking of racking the bike for good, one of my close friends from Durango said something when I was down and out and without a contract for 09 that really hit home. He said “This is the starting line, not the finish line. ” That snapped me out of my funk in a hurry. I was still racing my bike and doing what I wanted to do! Cyclocross was another opportunity to continue with cycling and another goal to strive for.
Pretty soon I realized that Cyclocross was my next opportunity. With no early season road commitments, I was free to chase my longtime Cyclocross goals. I had only accomplished my collegiate goals in cross and had much more, including a spot for Worlds. Quickly the desire to chase a spot on the Worlds team grew stronger. I chased points across North America at the biggest races and competed with the best US racers at the USGP’s and Nationals. My motivation was purely to succeed in the US and gain experience. I have always wanted to go to the Cyclocross World Championships just to do it and to continue growing as a racer. There were of course some high points and some lows during my season as my body was tired from so much racing. That is all part of it though, and I just kept training and resting as often as I could.
This year has been by far my most successful and most enjoyable season ever. The road season was awesome with some killer races in Canada, some good fun in the US and with my Jittery Joe’s teammates. Despite the crappy news about the team not going on, the support for Cyclocross was there from Jittery Joe’s and you, my friends. Obviously the Cyclocross season has been great as well with fun races, carnage,mud, lost bikes, and success! My sponsors have been awesome this fall doing everything they can to help me get to all of the important races. I really appreciate all of this.
With the announcement of my selection to the US Elite Worlds team, the icing is ready to be put on the cake. It’s not done yet. I have one more goal to accomplish and it is hiding in the frozen mud of the Netherlands. Since returning from Belgium and regrouping after the first round of cross racing, my motivation has soared.  Coming to San Diego to train was the best move I could have made.  I feel very strong again and not only am I motivated to kill it at Cross Worlds, I am motivated to make my own comeback to the Pro Road Peleton in 2010.  I am not going to quit this sport. I freaking love it and it is so much a part of me and who I am.  Sometimes you get a little lost along the way and just need a reminder that this is the “Starting line and not the finish line”! Bring it!

Posted in: Just Squawking

This entry was posted on Tuesday, January 13th, 2009 at 6:16 pm and is filed under Just Squawking. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.