Another diversion

While the road racing season for many (if not most) has kicked off, I am still trying to round myself into some sort of shape before my 2009 road racing debut at the Frozen Flatlands omnium the first weekend in April. Winter in the Methow has been reluctant to give up this year and I am eagerly awaiting the warmer weather of spring. A few weeks ago, I raced my mountain bike as a diversion from the usual base building rides and indoor trainer sessions. Then, last weekend, I had another opportunity to break my training routine with a little competitive diversion.

Every year at the beginning of March, the Methow Valley Sport Trails Association puts on a winter triathlon. It features a 12k bike leg on mountain bikes, a 22k nordic ski leg, and ends with an 8k run. Like most triathlons, it is contested by both iron competitors doing the whole event themselves and teams of 2 or 3 participants. Like all MVSTA events, it is well run and a whole lot of fun.

I was invited by a couple of friends to be their teammate and ride the bike leg. I accepted and soon enough race day came. The bike leg is ridden on mountain bikes but it is all on paved roads. The rules call for tires of a minimum width of 1.5" and the event is a mass start. With nearly all of the strong riders on slick tires, the pace is pretty high and pack riding is the rule. The bike leg route climbs slightly in steps for the first 5.5 miles and then gains another 500+ feet in the final 2 miles. Not being a climber, I hoped to maintain contact with the lead group until the last few miles.

Alas, it was not to be. I lost the shelter of the lead group on a rise about halfway through the leg. Three of us who were dropped formed a small group and continued at a pretty good clip until the base of the final climb. Here, more humility was dished out to me as one of my good friends and regular riding partners unceremoniously dropped me and climbed away from me. (I'll have to find an opportunity this season to return the favor.)

I completed the final climb at my own pace, trying to limit my losses. I knew that our team had the strongest skier in the race so that as long as I didn't lose too much time we'd be in good shape. I reached the transition and handed off the bib to our skier and he took over. He quickly erased the deficit on the leaders and extended to a comfortable 6 to 7 minute lead at the end of the ski leg. Our runner put in a solid run to finish it off and my 2009 season had its first achievement. It was a lot of fun and I was very fortunate to have such strong teammates. I can't wait until next year!

Getting the racing season started (sort of)

Since I had the time and opportunity, I decided to do a mountain bike race today. I took part in BuDu Racing's West Side Mountain Bike Series at South SeaTac park. I haven't raced a mountain bike in well over 2 1/2 years so, combined with how early it is in my training season, my expectations were low. I was pleasantly surprised however. I raced in the sport category and although I started out near the back of the field, my lap times were consistent and by the end I had moved up to the middle of the field, finishing 10th out of 20 in my age group.

More encouraging than the results page though was how I felt during the race. I haven't done any real intensity yet in my training and have only been back on the bike for a little less than a month. I felt good on the what climbs there were and was able to push hard without blowing up. The work in the weight room over the winter paid off as well as I had very little fatigue in my upper body. The trails at South SeaTac were as fun as always and the weather man was wrong and it didn't rain. Oh yeah, and the new bike is a kick in the pants as well!

Is there anything more fun than a new bike?

Being the bike geek I am, I can't think of anything more fun than getting a new bike. In the "real world", some people get company cars, at the bike shop I work for, I get a "company bike". It's a Kona Hei Hei 29er. I got it put together yesterday and will take it for its first ride tomorrow at BuDu Racing's West Side Mountain Bike Series race at South SeaTac.

I know, I know, it's a bad idea to try out new equipment for the first time on race day (much less an entire bike.) Since I'm not a mountain bike racer (it's been 2 1/2 years since my last one), I really don't mind if I finish dead last. It will just be a fun day in the mud on my newest toy and hopefully the first of many, many to come.

Splat!

Monday, I got out for my first outdoor ride of the year. Today I went for another season first. I decided to fall down and go splat. I was rolling along enjoying a blue sky, sunny day when I encountered a refrozen patch of meltwater on a heavily cambered, shady bend in the road.

Its interesting how many things can go through your mind in a short space of time. "Hmmm that's an interesting sensation, as if my rear wheel is slipping. Hey, my front wheel is slipping too. Uh-oh, I'm going down. I hope I don't break anything. Well, I didn't break anything. Did anyone see that? Is the bike okay?"

Luckily it was just a bump on the hip as the slick road meant I just slid along without even tearing any of my clothing. Still, it was a great day and a nice ride.

Outside again!

I got out for my first outside ride of the year this afternoon. I know, I know, there are lots of people who don't let the cold, snow, and ice keep them indoors and off their bikes for the winter, but I'm not one of them. The roads around here have cleared enough and it was a sunny afternoon in the low 30s, a perfect day for spin on my Ritchey that I sung the praises of in an earlier post.

Its amazing how good it feels to do that first outing of the season. The little hills that will barely be noticed later in the season provide a perfect opportunity to stretch the legs a bit and think of all the work yet to be done. All the memories of the previous season and all the hopes for the upcoming season compete for attention in my brain. The best part is the scenery changes. It never does on a trainer in the garage or a spin bike at the gym.

I'm glad to be back at it and out on the road again.

Who designs these things?

Last summer I posted some ramblings on the excessive amount of light blue in the pro peleton. Team Columbia has decided to go in a new direction this year with its team kit (http://www.cyclingnews.com/photos.php?id=/photos/2009/features/columbia_launch09/16-mensteam). I think the blue may have been better!

The Season of Hope

It's that time of year, that special season, a time for hope and a time for optimism. The time when gifts are received that can raise your spirit. Yes, its time for off-season training!

Since I don't race cyclocross (although I probably should try it even though that would mean yet another bike), I've been off the bike for a several weeks now. Its time to get back to work and hit the gym for some off-season strength training in preparation for 2009. The hope and optimism I mentioned earlier runs rampant this time of year for me. I begin to think of the races of the next year and of course since it hasn't started, all things are possible. I enjoy the workouts in the gym. They are a nice change of pace for a few months. By February though, I'll be tired of being inside and ready to hit the road again. The work I do now indoors hopefully will set me up for a strong racing season. Last year was the first winter I did any work in the gym and I feel it really helped me get off to a great start to my best ever season this past year.

I also mentioned gifts that can raise your spirit. I'm not talking about a new pair of pedals, or a jersey, or a sexy new pair of carbon wheels. No, I'm talking about something just as hard to wait for as Christmas morning. It's the posting of the racing calendar for the upcoming year on the WSBA website. Once its posted the planning and goal setting can begin. I think about the races I enjoyed last year and the ones I might like to try. I begin to plan which days from work I'll need off and if I can rope any of my friends into joining me at some far away race. Okay, I also think about new pieces of equipment that will make those races and my training all the more enjoyable and memorable.

Lots to think about and hope for in this Season of Hope.

Happy Holidays!