Race #3: DCCX...

Sunday...I found myself driving into Northwest DC...down Georgia Ave...onto the grounds of the Armed Forces Retirement Home for the DCCX Race. This was the first year that the DCCX was held...and all of the proceeds were going to the AFRH...I was amped for my 3rd 'cross race of the season...


It was super chilly out...luckily I had received my winter clothing order from NCVC while I was in Switzerland...complete with long sleeved jersey...thermal jacket...and 2 new sets of big shorts. So I rolled out on my warmup dressed to the nines in my new gear...leg warmers and all. The course was a mix of grass, road, gravel road, and hard packed dirt...with 2 sections of barriers...and uphill barrier section and flat barrier section.


After warmups...I realized the cleat on my left shoe was busted and missing a screw...are you kidding me? I was still able to click into the pedal...but only after some work...total wrench into the mental race gameplan. Also add to the fact that I was on the bike a total of 20 miles in the past 14 days didn't help things either. So the goal was simple for the DCCX: Survive the race! It is funny...you never really realize how much you depend on clipless pedals until one breaks and you really, really need it!

The whistle sounded for the start and I was so focused on trying to get clipped into my pedal that I went from about mid-pack to almost end of the pack in matter of minutes...so I spent the entire first lap trying to get back onto pace...not too smart considering the lack of training which in turn zapped my cardio...I was basically redlined from the start for the entire race. I was in what is known to racers as the "Pain Cave"...not a real awesome place to be for 45 minutes.

I am so glad my sister, Christine, and girlfriend, Eryka where there to cheer me on...I totally appreciated their support and cheers throughout the race...they also took these awesome pictures you see before you!

After 5 pretty hard laps I was finished...mentally and physically...finished 49th out of 68 racers...not too bad...I am glad I stuck it out and finished...I could have easily thrown in the towel on the first lap and used the pedal as an excuse...again a thanks to my support crew for pushing me to stay in the race!


Now comes the bigger questions...I am still in need of getting my road bike in working order...I may have a solution there...now my shoes are cooked...at least the cleats...so I am trying to get those in working order as well...I need new mounting plates for the cleats to fit into...awesome...right? The weekend is a big one for the are as far as 'cross goes...2 races...one Saturday...one Sunday. I...at the very least...want to race one of them...best bet is to do both...but the equipment needs to be fixed PRONTO!

I'll keep you posted...literally...

...johnny

Royale with Cheese & the DCCX Race...

Welcome back, welcome back, welcome back...Switzerland was awesome, fun, unreal, chilly, and worth the flights! My mom and I had so much fun with my sister, Barbara Ann, her husband, Ken, and the kiddies, Sarah, Ashley, and Stephen! I cannot thank my parents enough for the plane ticket and opportunity to travel across the ocean to see my sister...THANK YOU DAD AND THANK YOU MOM!

My camera is basically cooked from the fall and constant fidgeting with it during the trip...so here is a link to my sister's blog:

http://swisszrebiecfamily.spaces.live.com/

Check it out if you get the chance to see the pictures and story of my mom and I's trip to the Land of Switz! And yes...we ate at a McDonald's...and yes...just like in "Pulp Fiction" I had a Royale with Cheese (Quarter Pounder with Cheese)...it was way good...HA!...No metric system!

Got back to the states jetlagged and not ready to get back to work. Flight was delayed around 4 and 1/2 hours...watched "Knocked Up" twice and listened to "Oceans 13" once...zero sleep...

Picked up the 'cross bike on Wednesday...only to get home and have my bike rack in my room fall...and down went the road bike and mountain rig! After assessing the damage...I realized the rear wheel on the roadie was taco'ed! Talk about frustrating! One bike comes home...another needs something fixed! Give me a break...seriously! Now I need to figure out whether or not to get a new cheap rear wheel or a new semi-decent wheelset. Decisions...decisions...

Race #3: the DCCX is on Sunday...going to a VERY interesting race...due to the simple fact that I have not been on a bike in 13 days! But I am stoked on other simple reasons...like racing...and riding the 'cross bike! The race is taking place on the U.S. Armed Forces Retirement Home grounds in Northwest DC. Pretty rad to have a 'cross race in the middle of the city.

It has been raining for the past few days...hope to get some pictures up next week from the race...I also hope to get some wheels to get the roadie back in training shape!

Wish me luck this weekend...I hope all is well with everyone...everywhere!

...johnny

Almost forgot to post a new one!

Hey everyone...I hope this post finds you all well and rested from the previous week. Me? I am doing awesome...I am sitting at my desk at school getting ready to shut it down for the night...because tomorrow I will be flying out to Switzerland with my Mom to visit my sister, Barbara Ann, and her husband, Ken, with the nieces, Sarah and Ashley, and the nephew, Stephen. I will be gone for 6 days...2 days of travel...so around 4 full days in the Land of Swiss. I am super stoked and excited...I have never been to Europe...

On to some bike and training news...it just goes to show when one things goes down...somethings go up. I dropped off the 'cross bike sunday...turned around on monday to have Germantown Cycles to call and let me know my fork was in from rehab and ready to be picked up! I was amped. So Fox Racing Shox re-vamped my fork because the fork was still under warentee...so all I had to pay for was shipping to and from Cali...how nice is that! I rolled the bike out of the store and hopped on the saddle..."why not ride a wheelie to the car?...it's not that far." I don't know how much more wrong I could have been...one peddle crank...WANK! Dropped the chain...had to laugh! Ebb and flow...ebb and flow...Tuesday I rolled out for a road ride...6 miles in...rolled the tire on the side wall...tore through the tire and tube...Christine had to come and pick me up! Chalk up a new road tire. Sheesh...what next?

Thursday the weather broke...chilly temps...zero humidity...and a ton of wind. Went for a road ride and had to break out the base layers and arm warmers...but still a good time...something I am going to have to get used to when 'cross season really gets cold!

The weekend was awesome...you could not beat the weather. I was able to go down into NOVA to ride Acotink/Wakefield...it was a real fun to be back on the mountain bike...totally different workout than the road bike...which is different than the 'cross bike...they all have their own appeal...and I guess I was missing the mountain appeal! So I thought I was super talented and I could snap self pictures of me on the bike...as you can see from my stellar examples. The one pic was taken moments before...literally seconds before I cased HARD! Shifting the stem and fork our of place...my hand driving my camera into the ground. But...never fear...a few shakes...a few twists...the camera was as good as new! Phew...that would be the last thing I needed before heading to Switzerland...a broken camera!

Sunday brought on a ride at Schaffer Farms in Marlyand...it is a network of trails about 3 miles from where I teach...and it is going to become my "home trails" while I live in Rockville. It is an awesome and well maintained trail system...super fast...super dry...mixture of fun singletrack...tons of log ramps...open field rolling hills...a little bit of everything...even some cows. Not bad at all!

I am really looking forward to heading over to Switzerland...my mom and I have been planning this for a few months now and I cannot believe that we fly out tomorrow...direct from Dulles to Zurich! I am stoked to see my sister and her family...and to give my nieces and nephew HUGE HUGS! I may even try to post a blog while I am over there...no promises...if I find the time...

When I get back it is going to be slammed into a full on school week with special "Red Ribbon Week" Celebrations...which my co-worker and I have planned...it is a week set out for students and staff to pledge to be Drug Free...it is a great message and we have some fun activities planned...like "Sock it to Drugs Day"...you get to wear fun socks...I am going to wear my cool new "Ride Clean" 6" crew socks! My other favorite is "Lei off Drugs Day"...everyone is going to get Hawaiian Leis...get it? Clever...I know...I cannot take credit for that one...read it in a book!

Also when I am back it will be a full on focus for 'cross racing the next couple weekends...some more MABRA 'Cross races...even thinking of racing the USGP up in Jersey...get to see the big guns: Trebon, Wicks, and Kabush. We'll see. Ok...really have to run...

I still need to pack!

Thanks for reading!

-johnny

RACE #2: AVC 'CROSS CHALLENGE/HAGERSTOWN, MD.

I woke up early on Saturday morning to grey skies and fog...the typical weather pattern in the DC area for the past week. My sister, Christine came along for the ride up to Hagerstown to be my "Support/Official Photog" for the race. It was super nice having her there to yell and take pics while I was racing. We got up to Hagerstown with time to spare...throughout the whole ride we kept telling each other "yeah looks crappy...but it'll burn off"...we kept saying that because that has been the norm all week.

Got my number...pinned it on the jersey...something I am still getting the hang of...in mountain races the number plates go on the front of the bars...so far with 'cross races the number plates are pinned down the right side of the jersey. Then headed out onto the course for warm ups. Got around 3 solid laps in on the course...the layout was pretty cool...really tight...a bunch of sharp turns...a steep climb section...the barrier section was uphill...and a sandpit on the backside of the course...TAPE WAS EVERYWHERE! As you can see from soem of the pics...the course tape is all over the place. I felt really good after warm ups...like I hit the nail on the head as far as getting my body set for 40 minutes of all out racing.
I headed over to the staging area for the start...the mist/fog was still sitting around the course so I decided against wearing anything for my eyes...due to the fact that in warm ups my clear lenses were basically water collectors. I chilled in the back and waited for the whistle...once the race was underway i kept a relaxed pace...expecially in the first 200 meters...although in what I have read you really should not give up any ground on the start...just gain gorund on the leaders...I'm still learning. I flowed through the first lap feeling real well and began settling into a solid pace.

Laps 2 and 3 were pretty uneventful...I felt real strong on the short/steep climb...I was able to catch people there who were running their bikes up...and on the barrier section...I was having strong dismounts and remounts...it is interesting to see how much ground you can make on people in those short areas. Midway through the 3rd lap I noticed my front derail was making some noise with the chain...when I looked down I noticed my left crank arm was becoming loose and had a solid gap from the bottom bracket. Not good...


Near the end of the 3rd lap the crankarm was REAL loose...I could totally feel it in every pedal stroke...I was bumming...I even tried to kick it back into place...so as the official was ringing the bell for the final lap, I pulled off the course and stopped. DNF'ed my second 'cross race. Now that sucks. I was pretty pissed...ended up taking the crankarm fully off to inspect the damage...lost the "fixer bolt"...a similar problem happened this summer at the Cranky Monkey Series...I literally stripped the "fixer bolt" on my mountain rig. Today though...it just worked itself loose I guess.

So...I cleaned up...kept shaking my head at the frustration of having to stop a race due to a mechanical...Christine did her best to keep my spirits up...we ended up going to watch the Master 35+ race...pretty good racing...the leader had about a 15 second gap on the field...then blew a tire in the middle of his lap...but he had a second bike in the pits to switch out. After that...we both pretty much were ready to split...loaded the car and headed back to Rockville...grabbed a solid lunch...then I grabbed some solid nap time.



In all of my reading and researching I have come across a pretty simple explanation for what happened on Saturday. There are a good number of factors that you, the rider, can control...factors like nutrition/fueling...the amount of training you are putting in...the amount of rest you are giving your body...the clothing you wear for the race. Then on the other hand the factors that are out of your hand...that you cannot control...such as weather: sunny, hot, cold, rainy...course conditions: dry, muddy, grassy...mechanicals: flats, parts breaking, part failure. It sucks but these things happen...it just leaves a bitter taste in your mouth when it happens.

So...where am I now? Dropped the 'cross bike off at the shop...needs a new fixer bolt which needs to be ordered...plus I am getting my King headset installed...2 birds...one stone right? That makes 2 of my 3 bikes out of commission for the time being. Luckily...there are no races on the horizon...for at least the next couple weekends...plus I am heading over to Switzerland with my mom to visit my sister and her family for about 6 days...which is going to be real awesome...I am super stoked for that trip.
Going to get some solid road rides in this week...cross your fingers that this bike makes it without any mechanical issues! Until then...hope all is well...

You live and you learn right?

-johnny

What a week...what a week...

Recovered well on monday morning due to a solid nights sleep. Got on the road bike a good amount this week...my mountain rig is still in the shop...no word on the fork status...being rehabed in california. The highlight of the week by far was getting a chance to see Henry Rollins perform. He spoke at the Birchmere in Northern Virginia on Tuesday night. I have been reading his books for the past couple of years and he was the inspiration for me to begin writing a journal.
The show was amazing...he spoke for a solid 3 hours...never taking a break...not even to sip on the bottles of water laid in front of him. He touched on the obvious topics at first...politics...the war...CNN...FOX News...etc, etc. Now...I am not as on par or point with these topics...but I am not completely ignorant. The second hour of the show was pretty much dedicated to a story of how he had the chance to perform with his favorite band...Th Ruts over in London for a tribute show. Then the final hour was dedictated to his love of getting out and seeing the world...traveling. Awesome...I was glued to my seat for the entire 3 hours.


Tomorrow I am getting set for my 2nd 'Cross race of the season...takes place up in Hagerstown, Maryland...the "AVC Cross"...I am looking forward to getting out there and applying what I learned last week to this race. The legs and body have felt good all week on the road bike...a little sore last night...but with some hydration and rest I should be ready to hit it tomorrow.

I hope you enjoy the pics of Rollins...I blanked and left my camera in the car...these were some images poached off Google.

Well...it's Friday...kids just rolled out of the locker room...and I am still sitting here at my desk? What am I doing? Time to roll...

-johnny

Race #1: Ed Sanders Memorial/Lilypons Cyclocross

Before I get started with this post...wanted to let everyone know that I am at school due to the simple fact that my silly laptop at home does not cooperate well with this site...with that said I am going to try and post pre-race entries on friday and post after the races on monday...cool...back to the post...

http://mlkimages.smugmug.com/gallery/3556834#202634368-L-LB

What a day…what a day. Began real early with my alarm going off telling me that it is time to get up and go race. Got a solid breakfast in my body…packed the car and headed up to the race. Got there pretty early…around 8:20…parked and got my number…then just chilled in the parking lot watching cars come in and unload…felt like a mountain bike race. The weather could not have been more perfect: crystal blue skies...sun shining...not too hot...not too cool...right in the middle. I got started getting set for my warm ups and headed out onto the course with my fellow teammate Rob…we rolled through the course…it was pretty freaking sweet…lots of turns…dirt road…grass trails…a set of barriers…a run up…a twisty up and down climb…and the “endo” section…which was a sand pit about 8 feet long…8 feet wide…and about a foot deep…definite run through section…thank God I have been blessed with long legs...took my about 2 strides to get through as opposed to 3 or 4 like some of the racers...did about 2 laps and went back to the car to guzzle down the last of my bottle and GU up for the race.

http://mlkimages.smugmug.com/gallery/3556834#202635168-L-LB

http://mlkimages.smugmug.com/gallery/3556834#202637086-L-LB

Chilled in the staging area with the other “C Group” riders…they then lined us up 6 across…I was in the frigging 2nd row! Why? This is my first race and there were about 70 riders lined up! They went through the rules…they mentioned that they were going to be pulling people if you get lapped…that was a bit of a worry for me…didn’t want to get pulled in my first race. Whistle went off and so were we…I kept with the pack but still kept it on the cautious side…not 1 minute into the race and there was a crash of about 3 riders…spooked me real good. But I kept a good rhythm…even though I was getting passed…made the first barriers no sweat…settled down and just hammered. The race went for 4 laps…I had a few bobbles here and there on the corners but was passing the people that had gotten by me earlier…fell once on the up and down section…got right back up and ran the bike up. Finished real strong…felt awesome…I had just finished my 1st Cyclocross race! I was stoked! The crowd was cool…cowbells…whistles…horns…total radness...this is what I have been reading about...stoked me out.

http://mlkimages.smugmug.com/gallery/3556834#202647900-L-LB

http://mlkimages.smugmug.com/gallery/3556834#202653576-L-LB

Learned a good amount for next week: get a small flask for water…1/2 way through I really need some type of liquid in my mouth…it was way dry. Other than that I am still feeling the stoke of the race…I am glad I bought the bike and got into this…it is only going to get better! Time to crash out…be sure to check the links to the pictures...I did not have a chance to take my own.

That's about it...time to head out with my 7th graders for some softball...going to go for a light ride tonight due to the fact that I am heading to the Henry Rollins show tomorrow night...which I am super amped for...until then...have a great week!

-johnny