January 25th, 2009 / No Comments » / by shriverracing
I made my return to Euro Cross racing yesterday in Zonebeke, Belgium. The start was more than a kilometer long on pavement. That was totally different and it was like a leadout in a road race for the final sprint. Absolutely mocking.
The mud sucked the life out of me. I have never ridden in mud so sticky. It was like a sticky glue, just sapping every amount of strength. I was just pushing the pedals harder and going nowhere.
For a while I was in the mix with the other Americans in the race but faded pretty quickly. I feel pretty strong on the bike, but my cross skills are not there after not racing for 3 weeks.
I am doing one more race today. I am hoping that it is muddy again as bad as that sounds. The practice will be good as I am expecting worlds to be the same way, mud that sucks your life away. It was so hard yesterday. Hard and frustrating.
We will give it a go today in Assende, loosen up the legs a bit more and giver all I have. That’s all I can do.
I will try to get up some pics and a better write up, the internet is spotty here. I guess you only get so much bandwidth per month. The juniors have been over here downloading porno all month sucking up the bandwith. Haha! Kids.
Off to the races. More later…..
Posted in: Just Squawking
January 20th, 2009 / 1 Comment » / by shriverracing
Thanks for the Red White and Blue Worlds Carrot Cake. So good!
What perfect timing. The weather has moved into San Diego at the end of my last bit of training. I am done training hard and it is off to Belgium tomorrow. This couldn’t have been timed more perfectly. I am feeling really strong again on the bike and hope the last two races this weekend will be the final cap on the form before the World Championships on February 1st.
It’s an early morning tomorrow, but I will be working on a recap of my training and prep for Worlds as well as the things to come in my future. I have been working on allot of great opportunities, and it’s looking really good.
I wanted to just say a quick thanks to everyone in San Diego for welcoming me and being so supportive with my training efforts. Everyone was so stoked and great to be around. Thanks for all the calls and emails.
Off to the Euro Land tomorrow! Ham and Cheese!
Posted in: Just Squawking
January 13th, 2009 / 15 Comments » / by shriverracing
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 fal
l 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
January 13th, 2009 / 9 Comments » / by shriverracing
It is now official everyone. The longest season ever just got longer and I am so pumped! I am heading back over to Europe to race the Cyclocross World Championships in Hoogerheide, Netherlands. I am beyond excited to go! Full write up later today, but I have to get out and train first. Check out Velo News if you haven’t seen already.
Thanks to everyone for the emails, the phone calls, and shout outs. Finally it is for real! Stay tuned!
Posted in: Just Squawking
January 6th, 2009 / 12 Comments » / by shriverracing
The trip back across the ocean to the New World was effortless compared to the last day of racing in Belgium the day before. I have been home for just two and a half days now and I am still battling jet lag. I think it has allot to do with my reliance on a strong cup of coffee when I wake up each morning. Hitting the coffee in Belgium threw me way off. Now I wake up at 2 in the morning wanting my coffee at what would be 8 a.m in Belgium.
We raced our final race of the Euro Camp in Sint Nikclaus, Belgium around a frozen lake in front of another large crowd of fans. They got a great show as the conditions were fast and slippery. With a few off camber sections along the lake, it meant you would be taking a polar bear plunge or a “Tillford Bath” if you went down. The ground was frozen but the top layer was thawing just enough to make it like grease in every corner. I managed to stay up right the first to times by running some fat tires with super low air pressure. Actually the lowest air pressure I have ever ran at 22lbs. Later in the race though as I got tired I stacked it up 3 times on the off camber section losing spots and having to stop to fix my bike. I was to far from the pit to try to run or ride. The legs felt a little better and I was having fun, even after crashing a few times.
I did get to see on rider go out into the ice. He tried to push Danny Summerhill and instead of pushing Danny over he just propelled himself out onto the ice and through it. Somehow the rider stayed upright and rode out of the lake. I thought they were going to punch on right there in the course.
Being back in the states I have been catching up on a little bit of rest. After being completely demolished with 5 of the worlds hardest CX races in 8 days, I am worked! We are still in limbo as to who will be going to Worlds for the Elite men and won’t officially know until the 14th of January and would leave on the 21st or so. It makes it a bit tough on the old wallet booking a flight that late. Anyway, I am training as if I am going. That said it is off to San Diego for a couple of weeks. There is no riding going on here in Salt Lake right now. The snow hasn’t stopped since I got back and no one is out trianing. The best thing to do is go get some road rides in the sunshine in and some hard rides with a fast group on the weekend.
That’s just a quick update. Sorry for the delay.
Posted in: Just Squawking
