Cyclocross, Skiing, Some Music, Bend, mountain biking, oregon bike racing, Bend mountain biking, Coffee, trails, Bend Oregon, did I mention cyclocross!...
There's been a lot of racing around in the snow going on in Bend lately. From the Crossaflixion races to some impromptu training races there's been good prep should the national cyclocross championships be snowy.
It's been a little down time in the racing schedule which has been nice. It's felt a whole lot more like winter and the end of the season, but with USGP races this weekend, and cyclocross nationals just a short two weeks away, it's anything but the end.
Training has gotten harder and harder, daylight shorter, skiing looming around the corner. How do you find the motivation? The upcoming races are some of the biggest of the season and I expect them to be ridiculously fast, thats certainly been motivating.
Thanksgiving was a welcome break from double race weekends and traveling over to the valley. We were able to get in some skiing and rest and still find time to train. The latter part of the week found me up in Canada doing intervals off the coast of BC in the southern gulf islands. My secret training grounds for the week, it was a beautiful, relaxing, and very hilly place to get some training in.
It's the final push. Riding in the garage at night after long days of work, keeping healthy, staying on top of work, keeping equipment running (big props to Sunnyside Sports), it's all coming together. Best of luck to all of you traveling and getting ready around the country. We've got it comparatively easy here in Bend, but we'll be getting it ready for you. If your season is done, well, congrats, enjoy it!
We have a saying in Bend about this, you'll see the bumper stickers. It's about trying to buy local (from small locally owned businesses) whenever you can. If we support the businesses that support Bend and make it a great place to live we are also helping ourselves.
There are a ton of great local restaurants, bars, brew pubs, grocery stores, bike shops, and more. There are also a ton of folks coming in from out of town for Cyclocross Nationals. How great would it be if they could support some of our local businesses too. There is a ton of information to be found on the visit bend site for all matter of things from accomodations to meeting spaces, so check there if you are looking for a comprehensive list.
On the other hand Bendcyclocross.org is a place to find reccomendations, share inside tips, and ask questions about these local businesses, a source of where to eat, drink, hang out, etc. during nationals.
This is not a comprehensive list by any means, there are a ton of great local businesses, these are just a few of the favorites spots we frequent. It is an attempt to share favorite spots that we know to support the community and that we like to go to. It would be great if you share your own inside knowledge and leave comments. Chances are if you live in Bend you have some favorites too...share them here. I'll update the post as more comes in. Without further ado here are some of our favorite local spots.
Food: Jacksons Corner - Amazing food (handmade pasta, sandwiches, wood fired pizza), great casual atmosphere, awesome beer selection, very reasonable prices. We eat here more than anywhere else in Bend. Deschutes Brewery - The beer is amazing, food is amazing, tons of options, right downtown. Chow - A great breakfast spot!They serve lunch too. Parilla Grill - Burritos, cheap, healthy, PBR tall boys for $1. Sparrow Bakery - Stumptown coffee, pastries, and excellent sandwiches. Not far from the old mill. Kebaba - Amazing middle eastern food, tempeh burritos, falafel, lots of veggie options...sooo good. Taste of Thai /Thai on the Fly - Hard to find, super extra friendly delicious take out thai, cheap.Next to the expresslube in a little shack...really. Pizza Mondo - Downtown Pizza Ariana - Upscale Mediterranean 900 wall - Posh downtown, good happy hour Brother Jon's - Sandwiches, beer, mac and cheese. Nancy P's - Baked goodies
Coffee/Tea: Thump - Our go to coffee shop, Stumptown coffee, espresso, baked goodness.Big bike supporter. I was worried about coffee in Bend till I found this place. Strictly Organic - Excellent, local, organic. Try the Sunnyside espresso blend. Don's favorite. Towsends Tea House - If you're into tea...Downtown Lone Pine Coffee Roasters - Tin pan alley excellence. French pressed goodness.
Groceries: Natures - In the wagner mall on 3rd st. Health food, juice bar, vegan goods, teas, herbal medicines, local meat and poultry, bulk goods. Devores- Small grocery, deli, produce, take out, veggie and vegan options. Newport Market - Great beer and wine selection, gourmet groceries, cheese, bakery, more. RileysMarket - In Northwest Crossing. An easy deli/market stop before rides along Mt. Washington or up to the Phil's system.
There's all the typical other grocery stores and a Trader Joes as well. You'll see em. Rays and Safeway are close to the old millon 14th.
What else are you looking for? leave a comment and we'll help out.
(all photos pdxcross.com) The early morning sun glittered and reflected off fresh snow that still lay on the side of the road, bright blue and blinding white, not what one thinks of as cyclocross weather.
A lazy sat morning gave way to a hurried ride over to Seventh Mountain for round one of the Crossaflixion Cup. I arrived early and bundled up. I took over the microphone duties for the rest of the morning, with a little time to sneak in a ride on a really tough but fun course. The morning started out with a bit of snow, some ice, and a little mud. However, by mid day riders were rolling through looking like they had crashed and were more and more covered with mud.
It had warmed up a lot and thawed out significantly by the time the A's started. The field had spread apart by the time we reached the bottom of a long descent. A double track climb led up to one of the toughest run ups I have done...it was a bit absurd, nearly impossible to really run and finished on a slight hill that forced you to remount on loose uphill gravel while you were completely exhausted. Sunnyside had some great results with multiple wins and lots of podiums. Wade put on a monster chase after flatting and definitely got my vote for gutsy ride of the day. Veronica took a win, Chad took a win, Joanne took a win. Sunnyside was a force to be reckoned with!
Despite being tough, it was a fun course and it was a good tune up for cyclocross nationals which could dish out some very similar conditions, minus the giant run-up. If you're in Bend on the 28th, be sure to check out the second race of the Crossaflixion Cup. Info Here.
Barton Park, it's a love hate relationship for many people. The hate usually involves long run ups, sketchy muddy off camber and out of control descents...As for the love, while it's the same. I was psyched to see a good descent and a couple of good length run ups as well as some tricky mud and rocks in the woods. I raced hard, not as fast as I wanted, but it was what I had after a previous days race. There were riders I should have fought to stay with and others who I was glad I caught, but it was a tough, hard fought race that was a great end to the crusade series.
I will take a weekend or two off from the racing and traveling, but keep on the training and intervals. We have been doing double race weekend for the last month and have barely been home long enough to get anything done. It's feeling more like ski season, but I am gonna make sure to set aside time and motivation to train hard for the next couple weeks leading up to the USGP races and cyclocross nationals.
Ruth after a muddy one, she says she's smiling because the race is over. I think she is smiling because she is in onto the secret that is cyclocross. This was Ruth's 4th race ever and it was a tough one. Nice job Ruth. Thanks to Serena for sharing and thanks to Mark for the photo.
Balanced, one foot in the pedal, rain blowing, shivering, anxious, waiting. The first puddle comes as a shock to the system, splashing, spraying, feet soaked through. Slipping out of control as vision is blurred by mud, rain, and the spray of tires. Chase harder, head down, the faster you go, the sooner you'll warm up. Jump off the bike, jump back on...go hard. Wind comes head on, tires fight for traction, slippery corners, gravel, beach sand, rain, puddles, it's cold. The puddles get slower and deeper, the mud more sticky. Riders crash, feet go numb, spectators shiver.
Cyclocross in Oregon, it doesn't get much better in my mind. To me, this is what cyclocross should be. When the conditions turn to cold, rain, and mud it's a battle of wills. Not only do technical skills, and fitness come into play, but shear will power becomes equally important. Who can push through the suffering, who can put their head down into the wind and cold and push the pedals over just a little harder. It be can hard to continue as the cold creeps in. Riders stop or drop out because they can't go on. Equipment is pushed to the limit.
Both races this weekend dished out tests of will. It was a battle, but we do it because we love to battle, to fight the voice in our heads, to push through when it gets the toughest, to shut down the pain.
I have always thought that one of my strengths was the mental aspect of cyclocross, my ability to push through pain. I can only hope that cyclocross nationals in Bend will dish out the kind of conditions that will make it tough...rain, snow, mud - bring it....you can blame me.There was plenty of pain this weekend, this is not to say that it wasn't a great weekend of cross, just that it was a tough weekend of cross.
Saturday's state championship race was a tough one indeed. I went backwards off the start trying to find the warmth, trying to settle into a pace. It was slow going and I was not happy with my start. I put my head down though and found a rhythm, warmed up, and moved forward. In the end I know I went as hard as I could, I would have liked to finish better, but I was glad for the effort and a fun race in the mud.
Sunday was a blast. Riding around the course with teammates it was clear the course would present all the challenges possible. Lots of technical off camber sections that were a gamble, long fast sections out in the wind, run ups, slogs through puddles, wheel sucking mud, miserable weather, it was all there. I had a good start and pushed across the long section of road. I made it through the first couple laps and avoided a lot of trouble spots and crashes. I caught up to some fast riders I hadn't been with yet and stuck to their wheels...chasing...chasing....chasing. I took advantage of others mistakes and crashes, each time pushing a little harder to open up gaps, I rode smart, I took chances and crashed, but I recovered fast. I told myself to go harder. I played the mental games, and in the end it worked out well. I had a great race and was really happy with how it went.
Shivering cold we got things packed up and into a warm car for the long drive home after another long weekend on the cross bike.
It needs to be mentioned that my teammates are the best. YOU GUYS AND GIRLS ARE THE AIR IN MY TIRES. Everyone was cheering, helping, encouraging, sharing tips, getting warmed up together...amazing. Plus - Team Sunnyside absolutely killed it. Great races by the whole team in some seriously tough conditions. Multiple podium appearances on Sat...including two state champions. Sunday the team was equally impressive. It absolutely poured on the women making for some of the toughest conditions on the day. It was awesome to see the women out there battling the elements and grinding it out.
Ruth made her 5th appearance and showed that she can handle some of the trickiest and toughest conditions and still hand an ass whopping to the beginner women. NICE!
I'll throw more photos and links up as time allows. That's all for now.
The offical guide is out, including a story of team Sunnyside sports own Don Leet. If you are in Bend for cyclocross nationals, stop by Sunnyside Sports (the best bike shop in Oregon by far) and visit with Don, he is a wealth of knowledge and will be happy to help you with anything.
CX magazine has an article up on traveling to cyclocross nationals in Bend...Some good pts about getting bikes here. Check it out. Definitely give sunnyside sports a call for all your nationals needs.
I'll get a post up on restaurants and good local food options for any out of town folks that might read this.
And, hey just drop a comment if you have a question.
I am lucky enough to have some neighbors who are also teammates. It is also lucky that these neighbors have a warm, bright, comfortable garage with lots of trainers. I am especially lucky that I have teammates that are willing to cram into said neighbors garage to suffer and sweat thorough some tough intervals together. Intervals on a trainer aren't really fun to me. One has to be feeling pretty motivated to sit on their bike in a garage, ride, and push themselves continually. I think it's one of the weirder things we cyclists do..."riding to nowhere" Ruth calls it. I realized this evening while suffering, gasping for breath, that this training is really a team effort. It's getting dark at 5:00 and as much as I want to be riding on the road and outside when it's beautiful and warm out; work, chores, and many different things keep that from happening. Yet, the riding and training have to continue. With another month of crusade races, USGPs, and cyclocross nationals all still ahead, there is still work to be done. It's a lot easier to get on the trainer and push when you are there with teammates doing the same; mutual suffering. So thanks teammates, I would have a harder time motivating to get on that trainer without you.
Such a fun weekend of racing and hanging out with teammates. It all seems a haze right now, and I won't detail it all out, but here's the quick breakdown. We camped out in Eugene Fri night and rolled into Astoria around noon on Sat. Got on the course and checked it out, lots of slick mud and tricky corners mixed with a little climbing and some bumpy sections...A tough course. I was feeling rested however and psyched to be in Astoria for the weekend. I got the worst starting position possible, but told myself just to let it all out going down the hill and hammer up the climb to see how that positioned me. It worked out well and halfway through the first lap I had moved to the middle of the pack and was feeling strong. I picked folks off here and there mostly on the technical stuff and on the bumpy climbs. I tried to pick it up a bit as the laps wound down and had just got around a few folks as I was coming in for what I thought would be my last lap. Turns out Wicks was not too far behind me and I was done. I was fine with that, it had felt like a long race, I had put out a lot of effort in the last lap, and I was in a good position at the time. Turns out I was in just the right positon and finished in 18th...enough for one point which means call-ups. No more luck of the draw on the start posion. I was tired, happy, and muddy. Drove a short bit to Seaside where the team had a house rented. Had a great dinner with teammates, hung out, watched RAD... got psyched on some bike dancing and helltrack. A beautiful morning at the beach with lots of coffee, cleaning bikes, and getting ready. Rolled over early to do some heckling and check out the costumes. The fog burned off and it was another beautiful afternoon for a bike race. Still lots of mud and a few course changes to make things interesting. The course still had some technical twists and turns and plenty of mud, but added a bit more climbing and a short bit of pavement. I was feeling tired and sluggish, but told myself I would go all out and just enjoy what came of it. Most folks were in costume and the crowd was total chaos, it was amazing. A good start position helped me get into a good spot to start, but I was feeling tired and hanging on for the first couple laps. I settled into a pace towards the middle of the race and started catching folks on some of the climbs. I was riding with a group of three or four riders who were going at a good pace and kept me chasing. I was worried that with two to go it would actually turn into the last lap and so put out a huge effort on the climb and dropped the group I was with, I managed to ride smooth through the tricky stuff and up the pavement climb towards the finish, but I must have pushed it hard enough that Wicks wasn't close and I ended up out on one last lap. I was feeling pretty destroyed, but was determined not to let the group behind me catch up, so again I put my head down and suffered through knowing that I needed to hold on. I was riding alone, but started to see riders ahead as I finished...pulled in a 19th place and was just really happy with the effort I was able to do. I am feeling a ton stronger than the first few races and happy with finishing in the top 20.
It was a great weekend with lots of teammates and everyone doing really well. Ruth had a top 10 finish on Sun coming in 8th with the star trek skirt costume on a tricky course...Seriously awesome.
It's only Mon night, but I am already plotting and scheming for next weekend. The whole time change thing is gonna force me onto the trainer a whole lot more, but so it goes. I'll try and get some short workouts in outside.
Check out Serena's recap, Don's report and an awesome photo of our costumes, and check out all the great photos at PDXcross.
Cyclocross season comes fast and it's always a roller coaster. Good races, bad races, mechanicals, sickness, it's all part of the game, but this weekend was a good one.
Sat saw us making the trip over the pass with a stop in Salem for battlecreek cross. An amazing course set on an abandoned golf course with lots of good twists and turns and sand traps thrown in for good measure. I lined up with a small group of A's who were there to race around on a beautiful, sunny, warm, fall afternoon. The course is flat as can be, and was really fast due to the mostly dry conditions. A quick start into a slippery right turn set the pace. The backside of the course was windy, and some gaps opened up from the front. I spent most of the race chasing and trying to close down gaps, I spent a couple laps working with a guy on my wheel only to bobble on some roots and have him gap me. A fun race for sure. It was tough with all the flat as there was very few places to get any rest or slow down. The teammies were out in force. Damain took out his aggression and raced to a solid 4th place. Wade and Chad tag teamed their race and took the two top spots. Serena and Renee put the hurt on the A women with Serena taking the win and Renee in 4th. I didn't feel like I had the best race, but I was really enjoying myself and was glad to get the legs going. Such a nice day to be racing around in the sun. Put on the recovery socks and made the quick trip into Portland for the evening.
Sunday morning was lazy, espresso and a big breakfast with friends. Rain was creeping in and I was getting anxious. We got out to the course in time to watch some racing and heckle some folks on the tricky sections. My legs were feeling tired and heavy, but I rode around checking out the course and enjoying the scene. Lots of people crashing, it was slick and there were some tricky corners. Watched the women start and then jumped on the trainer. Got to the start line with a few minutes to spare and got lined up. I had a good spot and snuck in behind some folks that I knew would be outta there fast. It worked great and I had my best start so far. I got into the muddy slog section in a good spot and powered through gaining a few spots and leaving all bottlenecks behind. I found myself riding with some guys that I hadn't been up with yet and was sitting in a good position. I was feeling strong so I just hung on, tried to ride smooth and stay right side up. D was just in front of me when I saw him pull into the pits...his luck is just not right...He was hounding me the rest of the race. I found my way around a few crashes, pushed it on the hard pack, rode smart through the slippery stuff and generally felt strong. It was the first race since September that I have felt 100% and like I could stand up and sprint in the middle of the race. The course suited me well and was a good mix of mud, technical sections, and power sections. I had a blast and was real happy with my result. (photo: pdxcross.com)
The rest of the team did great. Ruth had an incredible race and placed in the top 20, she wasn't so sure of the mud when we got there, but I assured her that it was the best part of cyclocross...she was definitely convinced by the end of her race. She had a blast and did a great job with the tricky conditions. I caught the tail end of Chad and Wade's race, they both looked strong. I didn't get to see the women race, but I know that Renee and Gina tore it up. Mike looked muddy and strong pulling off a top 10 in the masters A's. Veronica and Serena were both looking strong and Serena pulled off another seriously impressive 3rd, with more press for sunnyside on the velonews site...Don is right on.
A great weekend of cross racing and I am feeling much stronger than previous races, let's hope it keeps up and improves.
Got 3 very dirty bikes to clean and get set up for another weekend of cross racin Halloween style.
The buzz keeps spreading about cyclocross nationals in Bend this winter- folks asking at work, friends who have heard about it, chatter online, people coming to visit. It will be here before we know it. Lots of folks asking what the weather is going to be like... I have only spent one winter in Bend, but my guess is that it could be just about anything. It might be in the 40's, it might be 20 degrees. Maybe it'll be sunny and warm, it might just be freezing and snowing. There might be mud, could be some dust, one might see frozen ruts...I do know, that no matter what the weather, it's going to be a ton of folks out racing, it will be an awesome spectacle to watch, there will be beer, cowbells, and craziness! After the first couple days of registration there were already more riders registered than raced in last years nationals. It's exciting to know that the national cyclocross scene will invade Bend for a few days. Team Sunnyside will most definitely be out there representing.
It's only 7 weeks away now. There's racing pretty much every weekend from here till then. I got a late start on the training this season, here's to hoping that bodes well for late season fitness and cyclocross nationals. You can bet it will be crazy fast no matter what mother nature give us. Here's the Schedule
Cyclocross is HARD. It's part of the reason I love it. Last Sunday was HARD. I didn't love it while I was racing...per usual my perspective changed when it was over, things were better. Races don't always go like this for me, most of the time even when I am suffering, somewhere inside I realize that I am having a blast. Sun I was mostly suffering. I can't figure out whats going on with me, I felt tired, sore, heavy. I am not making excuses, I had a decent race, but I didn't feel all there. It was mostly the first two or three laps. The second or third time up the hill I couldn't believe how beat I was...a lap later I looked at the lap board in my oxygen deprived haze did some figuring it would say one or two to go...Not so much...When I was hurting so bad I looked at the lap board and it said 6 to go...well, believe it or not, things got better after that. I settled into a pace, caught some folks, pushed it a bit more on the hills, and enjoyed myself a little more. 9 gruelling laps, that was a tough race mentally and physically. I apologize to anyone I tried to speak to after the race...I wasn't all there. Sunnyside was out and killing it...Renee had an amazing race and took 1st. Serena put up a serious battle and came away with 3rd in a stacked field of tough women. (read about her race on velonews). Wade with a big 4th, Chad did some mean beer drinking (flatted out early). Veronica was out giving it, Mike raced hard, Gina looked super strong. D with not the best luck, starting on the back, getting run over, then flatting...things can only get better D. Ruth raced again and did way better than she will admit to...That's a tough course for anyone. Nice work Ruth! Don, we miss you out there! It's tough not hearing Don cheering from somewhere on the course.
Jumped back on the horse early this week and training has been tough. I am not sure if I am still battling part of this cold, respiratory wise I don't feel 100% and maybe it's making me tired...I hope so, because I have felt pretty heavy and slow all week so far. Doing my best to get sleep, eat healthy, and train smart.
Amazing pictures as usual at pdxcross.com. Check em.
Battlecreek cross and Washington County Cyclocross Crusade #4 on tap for the weekend. Thanks Serena for reminding us... 8 weeks till cyclocross nationals!
Rainer is always one of my favorite courses. I love all the up and down, the fast grass corners, off camber, singletrack in the woods...it's just a great course. I only wish I was feeling better going into it this past weekend.
I was sick all week after last weekend, stayed home from school, didn't ride at all, tried to recover. I felt decent enough to race, but just didn't have any energy. Still really glad I raced and I had a great time, just didn't produce any results. That's okay.
The plan is to get some intervals in this week, get the power back, go into the weekend feeling fast. New venue this weekend, and a race sat in Eugene? It was sleet and freezing rain this morning and looks to be the same for the rest of the week. Not the best for getting some rides in, but if it's trainer weather, well then so be it.
Got all registered for cyclocross nationals in Bend (Both the 30-34 race and the Elite race). The registration was a big pain in the ass, but it's all set and we'll so how that puts me on the line. Can't wait for cyclocross in Bend in December.
I really love the cross crusade...there were something like 1400 people out racing on a beautiful Sunday. The course was great, the crowd was great, a damn great time. Ruth came out for her first cross race and kicked some serious ass. She most definitely does not give herself enough credit...she rode through traffic and looked like she belonged a couple categories up. She was passing folks every time I saw her and when she was done, she told me she could have done more. Guess she'll go even faster next time.
I had a good race minus the dropped chain along the backside of the velodrome. I don't feel like writing all the details out, but I chased and chased and chased some more...I was moving up the entire race. Anderson and Tommy caught up with me on the last lap and I suffered in right behind them. I feel like I should have been further up and know I can improve the results. Regardless, I had a great time.
I went into this race starting to get a cold. I came out with the full on cold. Fever, coughing, sore throat. Monday and Tues I was on my death bed and I have been feeling like hell till today. I missed one day of work and I've gotten behind on most everything...school work, house work, training. Oh well. Was feeling decent enough this afternoon to ride around the park with Don, Serena, and our jr teammate Mitchell practicing barriers.
I am spinning around Mount Washington drive, eyes watering, whipping downhill, second guessing my choice to go sans knee warmers or embrocation. It's 10am on a Sunday morning in Sept and it feels like late Oct. I sit up to breathe some heat into my hands. I push it up the little rise and some warmth comes creeping into my core. I flash through patches of sun and shade the latter with a burst of warmth. Soon I am heading up Skyliners thinking about the workout ahead of me. It was a lazy sun morning. I slept in, no alarm, drank copious amounts of coffee, sat reading the news, calm...not anymore.
Cyclocross season is in full swing. The days at work fly by and it's a rush to get home and get a ride in. Riding home evenings, dusk coming too early, a dry dusty smile, cleaning bikes, replacing parts, obsessing over schedules, training, waiting. Head down I turn the pedals over and over. Tired aching legs and soreness find their way into my daily routine. I am getting ready. It's early I tell myself, one more interval, push it harder. It's all a big game to be sure, but it's one that drives me, keeps me motivated, keeps me dedicated and pushing myself to be better.
The national cyclocross championships will be in Bend this December and I want to know that I have done everything I can to be ready, to compete. I try to be realistic, I am not a pro, I don't have a coach, I am doing this for fun. Riding my bike is what I choose to do with the spare time I have. Maybe it would be different if all I had to do was ride my bike. I find a lot of inspiration in the riders who like me (and there are many) find time to balance the dedication it takes to compete with full time jobs and families. I was reminded of this reading a recent Velonews article about Jake Wells who had an amazing performance at Crossvegas. The article made some great points abouts the "working class" racer. I really am in awe of the riders that do it on their own and make it work. Molly, Tonkin, Shep...(and so many others). I can always look to these riders for inspiration and to push me to go after them. They aren't superhuman, but they are dedicated individuals that decided this is what they would do, chase the dream. Right on!
An excerpt from the article...
Professional bike racing in the U.S. is different from just about every European country. When they say "pro" there, it means everyone in the race makes money doing it.
Not so in the U.S. For some, becoming a professional means little more than cherry picking a few smaller races and paying USA Cycling $150 for an elite license. It was easy to see the differing ability levels at CrossVegas, as almost half of the field ended up lapped.
Being a working class racer, myself, I have a special place in my heart for those guys who can race well without the support the big guys have. I have a great appreciation for the Erik Tonkins, John Bakers and Molly Camerons of our sport.
I've been a little slow on the report, but I have to post what a sweet weekend of racing it was. I said I wanted to chase some fast guys around, and chase I did. The conditions were epic and exactly what I would have wished for on Sat night. After pre-riding a few times I was psyched with how the soft and tacky the course was, the corners were fast and sticky and the off camber stuff held just fine. I watched Serena start with the elite women and then had to jump on the trainer. About half way through my warm up it started to drizzle, more of a mist really, but it started slow. By the time I jumped off the traininer and headed to staging it was really starting to rain. I was called almost last of the 70 or so riders that started and had an awful start position, but a good start. I felt strong and went hard for the first lap before I settled in. The rain had it's own plans and it started fully downpouring (Check out this photo of Molly and Wicks...and the rest of the album here). I was loving the rain, being under the lights and all the technical slippery stuff. The course was a great mix of flat fast sections and technical cornering on slippery grass or off camber traverses. I was with a good group that was going back and forth working and pushing each other. The new tyres were dialed in and feeling really good. I just kept hammering. I had just pulled to the front of the group I was with when we got pulled with two laps to go. Regardless of being pulled I was happy with where I finished and the effort. Mostly it was just a super fun race and a real solid workout. Serena and I packed up the wet gear and headed to her dads place...we didn't really get in till around midnight, but there was no rush the next morning as the races weren't till the afternoon. Sun was about as opposite weather from Sat as could be. Perfectly clear, blindingly blue, and warm. Warming up on the course I knew I was in for some torture. It was dry and fast. The "Knapp Time" run up definitely lived up to its reputation. That sucker is steep and long and no fun when you are running up it for the 8th time. The rest of the course was a mix of technical descents with lots of loose gravel and tricky corners, some climbing, and flat grass sections that were really windy. I had a decent start, but went backwards after some of the climbing and running. I found myself riding alone between a fast group in front of me that I couldn't bridge up to and a bunch of stragglers behind me. I realize I have a tough time when I am riding solo and there's nobody really pushing me and no wheel I am chasing. It was tough. I wasn't really sure if I was going all out and I just rode my race till Page and Huele came around me with 2 to go and again I was pulled, this time only about 100 yards from going out on the last lap...ah well. A good workout to say the least. It was a long drive home, a late night, and a tough Monday, but well worth it. I know going into the weekend I wasn't sure what I was getting myself into, but I think it was a good experience and definitely helped me see where I need to be for the rest of the season and ol' cyclocross nationals in Dec here in Bend.
Time to step it up!
Check out videos of both Star Crossed and Rad Racing Here
Complete Star Crossed results for all categories are HERE.
Complete Rad Racing GP results for all categories are HERE.
Training hard, done a few races, trying to get back into the swing of things. Not gonna write about it all now, but it's starting. Jonathan Page was racing tonight in Bend, guess he wasn't used to the dusty corners...He crashed and Trebon took it with Sheppard right behind him. Gotta love a Thursday night cyclocross race in Bend.
The last few days of work flew by, it was amazing to see all our hard work completed and an amazing community center standing before us. The students put the final coats of paint on and were even able to finish and amazing mural (a beautiful painting of two elephants and a globe). The building came out beautiful and the students are so proud of all their hard work. We celebrated with the community during dedication cermonies that included multiple dance performances from the community, Thai folk music performed by local community members and many speeches. Again the elder community members tied strings around our wrists to symbolize our connection to them and the community and the monks at the temple blessed us and wished us luck in our travels. The students gave thanks to their families before we all sat down to an amazing final meal (we all contributed spaghetti) with the community and enjoyed some dancing and games before the night was up. It was with many tears and heartfelt goodbyes that we loaded into the vans this morning. the students from the school and all of our host families were there to send us off. We received cards from all the students thanking us for the time we spent at the school and for all our work. The families too had a hard time saying goodbye and didn't want to let us go. We loaded up the last of our things and headed to the city where we have enjoyed a great lunch and errands before we board the train tonight and head to Bangkok then Cambodia. We are amazed at how fast the time has gone and are excited to do some more travel even though we already miss our Thai families and community. We hope this finds you all well.
All, so sorry for the delayed updates...we have been relaying our updates from the field over the phone to the office as we have not had access to computers for the last few weeks (Which have been amazing to say the least) and they have typed up a travel log of sorts.I pasted below all the current updates in order from the first to the most current (it's a bunch of reading) Sorry no pictures those will be coming in the next couple weeks. Currently we are back in chaing mai after our time in the village. Tonight we will board the night train to Bangkok where we will spend tomorrow before we fly to cambodia for our last few days. There will be another update at some pt soon, but here is what we have so far.
7/4/2009
Sawatdee (Ka/Khrap),
Greetings all. We have been in Thailand nearly a week now and things are great. We have seen and done so much already, and it has been great getting to know each other and the group.
We spent the first few days around Chiang Mai getting to know the group and this beautiful city. We had our first Thai lessons and have had lots of opportunities to practice at local markets, restaurants and with our hotel staff. We have been using songthaews (local taxi trucks) to get around and students have really enjoyed all the sights and sounds of the city. We have had plenty of rest by the pool to get everyone on Thai time and have shared some amazing meals. The students are particularly enjoying trying all the different fruit out and the dragonfruit seems to be a favorite. We visited the famous Wat Doi Suthep a Buddhist temple atop a nearby mountain and learned a little about Buddhism. We also had a chance to visit a temple here in town and were able to talk in groups with monks about Thailand, being a monk, Buddhism, and life in general. It was a real highlight for the students.
Everyone has agreed the trek has been a real high point in the trip so far. We hiked to a hilltop village where we were treated to amazing scenery, a beautiful bamboo long house to share, and even some amazing singing and music from the local community. Once we hiked down we were able to relax and cool off with a great ride down the river on bamboo rafts while enjoying the scenery. Yesterday we finished the trek with a trip to the elephant preserve where everyone got a chance to visit with the elephants and take a ride through the jungle. The students especially enjoyed getting to cross the river on top of the elephants.
We have done lots of preparing for the community and feel as ready as we can be for this next step of our adventure. We will load into vans this morning and head to Baan Pok where a welcome ceremony awaits us.
We hope this finds you all well and we will update you when we can!
Team Thailand
7/9/09
Family and Friends,
Our Thai journey continues…
We arrived in our village of Baan Pok on Sunday to a very special welcome ceremony that the entire community had planned for us. During this ceremony everyone in our group and the community was connected together with one piece of string, and then there was some chanting in Thai to welcome us and provide good luck to our group. Then the elders came to cut the string, and tied the string as bracelets on us, many of which remain on our wrists as a special reminder of the warm welcome and good wishes they presented to our group. Our homestay parents tell us that these bracelets both protect travelers on journeys while at the same time reminding them of those loved ones they have left behind. We will certainly cherish them during our time here together!
Our first morning in the village was a Buddhist holiday, and the community invited our group to come to the temple to celebrate. At dawn we climbed the local wat, or temple, along with our host families and the entire village in order to celebrate the full moon holiday, during which everyone brings food, flowers and gifts to the temple. The story goes that these gifts will help to sustain the monks living within, as they are not allowed to spend a night outside the temple for the following 3 months. It was such an honor to be invited to participate in this beautiful ceremony!
Otherwise, we have been working very hard on our service project and our efforts are really paying off! Endless bucket brigades and sand trains have made an immediate impact. Walls are rising (up to 4 feet) and the community center is coming together quickly. Hand gestures and our basic Thai lead to forms of communication that are both functional and hilarious. Students in the community just finished teaching us a local Thai dance and we look forward to spending more time with them now that school is back in session. In the afternoons we've really been enjoying workshops designed and led by our "student leader of the day." These have ranged from fun games to more reflective discussions. This weekend we are really looking forward to spending some time in a local orphanage that has invited us for dinner. All in all we've had SO much fun together, and the group has been incredibly supportive, accepting, and open with one other. How lucky we all are to be here in Thailand! Hope you are all having a great summer back at home too!
More to follow… Team Thailand
7/17/09
Greetings from Baan Pok! It’s hard to believe, but we’re wrapping up our time here in the village very soon and are putting the final touches on the community center we are building. We just finished a day of plastering after days of mixing mountains of cement. The work has been rigorous but rewarding, and we look forward to that last coat of paint that will go on the building this weekend!
Last weekend we all enjoyed a great excursion to an innovative and inspiring orphanage in the area. Global Routes has been visiting this particular organization for the last few years, and each time they welcome us with open arms and smiling faces. We worked and played with kids ranging from 4 to 14 and they showed us around their sustainable farm where they learn job skills including gardening, wood carving, and crafts. In the afternoon we played some soccer with the kids and shared a dinner with them that evening. That night was a great time for a deeper conversation about the differences in our lifestyles and culture and what we can take home from this experience.
Back in the village, we continue in that sprit by sharing stories each morning before diving into the work of the day. We are locally famous for breaking into song throughout the day as we share our pop music with the work crew here! Each day the hardest workers earn “red can” (a.k.a. Coca-Cola) awards, which we all enjoy in the warm afternoons. In the evening, we all have enjoyed helping our families to cook, though only the bravest among us have tried some of the more “exotic” offerings, such as tadpole soup, fried silkworms, and pig brain. For others, bowls of rice, chicken or goat, edamame, bamboo shoots, and, of course, fish sauce is more than enough to fill us up!
In short, we will certainly miss the routines and friendships we have developed here, but look forward to a memorable farewell ceremony and project dedication upcoming. We’ve already written thank you cards to our host families, which will be translated into Thai by our leaders. To you, we also want to thank you for supporting us in our journey and we look forward to sharing more stories soon!
I love thunderstroms, but this was a whole different thing. Still pretty fun to watch. Take a look at the photos. Something like 2 inches of hail on the ground and a bunch of flooding.
Just had to post about what a ridiculously fun race that was. So much single track, twisty, technical, rocky, sandy...a little bit of everything just as a mountain bike race should have.
Sat morning I got to ride the course as we marked it and put up signs, ribbons, etc. It seemed great then, I knew it would be even better at full speed...It was!
Attended graduation Sat afternoon, then got to host Team Lazy Tarantulas as well as the Jr Team Lazy Tarantulas...Good times.
It was a chilly start to the race, but the sun came out at the start and it was just about right. A dusty run up the road to the single track and it spread out considerably. I went backwards on the first lap, feeling exhausted, thirsty ( I dropped my bottle early on the first lap as I fumbled to get it back in the cage), and slow. I had to pee so bad that I took a leak as I was going down a section of trail while riding (nobody was around and I just coasted). I got into a rhythm as the second half of the first lap turned down grand slam. I started catching folks, pedaling harder, feeling stronger. Made a move around some folks going into the second lap, caught some more on the climb and again at the first technical rocky section. Got a water bottle hand up at one of the intersections...THANKS! I kept feeling stronger as the second lap went on. Caught up with D and Mike for a while and rode together till mike flatted and D cramped. Started picking up a few more on the run in to the last rocky section and then just pushed it as hard as I could on the road out. A beautiful day to be out riding bikes with the team and friends.
A short week of craziness as school winds down and we pack everything up and get ready for Thailand. I'll ride bikes a bunch this week and jump in a crit on Wed. Almost summer!
A while back I came across this image and I really liked it because it looked like a mini model. I wasn't quite sure what the trick was, but with a little work and help from photoshop, I think I have it dialed in. A big part of it is starting with an image that already appears like a model to some extent, it helps if its more of a landscape shot from a high angle, then it's just a matter of making everything look a little more fake with some color and focus...I tried it out with a shot of Fenway park. Once cross season rolls around I want to try and capture some shots that will work well for this. A pretty cool trick.
A quick update. Been riding a lot this week. Tues I jumped into the STXC race and just hung on. Some fast dudes out there...Took 5th out of 5, impressive I know. It was dusty and sweaty with two climbs that were just long enough to really hurt.
Yesterday, rode through some of the heaviest rain I have ridden in. Was on my way with Serena out the the local Wed night TT race. Serious storm we rode through was almost comical, it hailed on us briefly too. Puddle deeper than the bottom bracket, no joke. Just brought the road bike and no aero gear. Got in a quick warm up and off I went, it wasn't raining anymore. It was painful but over quick. I could clearly improve my time trialing, just not sure what it's gonna take or if I care at this pt in the season.
Only a few races left in me before the departure to Thailand...Pickett's this weekend should be sweet, it's been raining a bunch and the trails will be perfect. Next week a crit. That's it. Run a bit whilst traveling, hit it hard in Aug for CYCLOCROSS!
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About Me
Fox PDX
Bend, Oregon, United States
This blog is part training journal, part race reports, some writing, sharing, and photos. I hope it gives some insight about training for cyclocross nationals, teaching, and balancing all this out with bike racing. Please comment and share your thoughts.
"But if you don’t get it, this bonus, you can go home full of denial, and live out your years.Great waves can pass unnoticed outside your door;stars can pound silently on the roof; your teakettle
and cosy life inside can deny everything outside..."
-William Stafford-
from:The Methow River Poems- Is This Feeling About the West Real
There's been a lot of racing around in the snow going on in Bend lately. From the Crossaflixion races to some impromptu training races there's been good prep should the national cyclocross championships be snowy.
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