All Blog Posts (398)

The day started out well enough; riders congratulating me on last weekend's Boggs finish, perfect weather, relaxed warm-up, front row line up.  Stayed with the top ten on the run-up off the gun.  Moved up a few positions on flats past the airport. Rode smooth through the looping single track, relishing the smooth ride of my Superfly 100. Easy drop and climb into and out of the big rock-strewn rollers.

All going well. Feeling strong, moving up a few more places. Then, on one of the…

Last year I'd never even tried an eight hour race. For Boggs V, I gave it my best, not knowing exactly what to expect; I stayed relaxed and calm, attempting to tap the cumulative benefit of a winter's base training.

Somewhat to my surprise, I had finished with the best time and with the most laps among all the experts on that cold and muddy 10 mile course. Only 12 minutes behind Kevin Smallman, I would have been second in Pro and third overall (some single speed dude inched passed me…

This was my first year making the trip down to the Bakersfield area for the Keyesville Classic.  This grassroots event has taken place for many years.  Recently they began running an "all mountain" class, which combines results from the XC race on Saturday and the Short Track and Downhill on Sunday, all raced on the same bike.  At $69 for all three races, how could I…

I made the trip down to Southern California last weekend for the first of the national pro series races.  These races are the real deal, with close to one hundred pros from around the country.  This is where you test yourself against the fastest guys in the country (and Canada and Mexico).  A huge start group, short laps, and lots of fast guys makes the dynamic very different than local races.  You fight your way through the throngs in the beginning and then settle in to do battle for as…

It seemed that I got up on the wrong side of the bed. The daylight savings time change the night before, meant one hour less sleep. Despite not having ridden or done much the day before, I slogged through breakfast, not feeling entirely rested. Thankfully, Shiloh drove in the dark, while I tried to snooze, waiting for light and a clear mind.

As is often the case, I dreaded the start. Lining up in the second row, I searched for inspiration, attempting to simultaneously stay relaxed and…

Training is coming along pretty well in preparation for my first peak period around Napa Valley Dirt Classic and Sea Otter.  I have been getting my training hours in, but lacking a bit on recovery time.  My 2 year old son, Simon, is so full of life that he rarely sleeps through the night.  Though I miss him if I haven't seem him for 4 hours, I sure could use longer stretches of sleep!

On a day of intensity training last Thursday, I had my first down day of the season.  I tried my…

The forecast for this race was pretty bad the week before.  Rain and maybe snow.  They changed the venue from Toro Park to Fort Ord to lessen the impact due to wet trails.  It became less dire but still discouraging as the race approached.  I pretty much figure nasty conditions are part of mountain bike racing, and since this was a training race on the schedule, I made my plans to be there anyway.

The weather and conditions could not have been better.  It was mostly sunny,…

The Sonoma County Grasshoppers started a month early this year and I had to miss the Old Cazadero opener.  This is one of the few 'Hoppers that can be won on a mountain bike, and I've done pretty well at it for the last four years.  I had a work conflict this year that was unavoidable, which was a real pity.  Though I've started mountain bike racing for the season, I figured the second Grasshopper, the Fort Ross road race, would be fun and good training.

The forecast was for rain and…

First official race of the year.

I travelled to Fort Ord Sunday, February 13, for the CCCX season opener.  The weather was perfect - dry and cool.

These early season races are good training, and I use them as part of my weekly intensity workouts in the build period.  I was coming into this one with a little fatigue in my legs, but ready to begin my season of mountain bicycle racing!

There weren't many familiar faces at the starting line.  I did recognize Brian Duke, one…

I participated in the last 2 of this year's 3 DFL Crossdresser CX races.

I guess this will be the last year of this series, as it has become too popular for the urban underground race format.

You can race for free if you wear clothes of the opposite sex. Any bike goes. I wore my normal kit and rode my Superfly rigid at 17.5 lbs, 1x9 with Schwalbe Furious Fred tires.

The last course was at the Toxic Golf Course, which is basically a gravel parking lot and some area with a…

One last push. Just past the final hike-a-bike section, one mile from the finish, where I had earlier in the day dodged my way through a mess of downed riders, my rear derailleur suddenly seized up and I abruptly skidded to a stop. Moments before, I had concluded that 4th or 5th place was in the bag, ‘unless something catastrophic happens’.…

My last real race of the season was in July, but I've been participating in local events for fun lately.

Today I did the mountain bike portion of the Mt Tam Triple Crown. Basically a fun and competitive ride up Eldridge from the intersection at the base of Fish Grade to the gate at the pavement near East Peak.

I'm definitely languishing in a transition/pre-base period right now. That pretty much means riding a few days a week for fun - no concerted training. Though I didn't…