Pictures and Report from Lonestar Lakes CX Race

The folks at All About Bikes Racing did an excellent job designing this cyclocross course.  I have been practicing and training a lot more this year on grass so the long sections didn't bother me as much as in the past.

I showed up to race the 35+ event after fighting a head cold that had just moved into my chest.  No excuses, but I'm just saying.

Anyway I took this race much like I have taken all other CX races this year...for fun, but I'm still giving it all I have.

There is really not much to report.  I wasn't last but I wasn't in contention for the money either.  I felt pretty good and had a good time.

Here are some cool pictures taken of my during the race (why just me, well its my blog):

Photo by Keith Burnstein

 

Photo by Keith Burnstein

 

 

Photo by Mike Park

Frogs on the Farm Cyclocross Race: CX Race / Swim Meet

The first race of the VACX series is over and done.  Thanks to Donna and all the Frogs for putting on a great race.  I did this race last year.  It was a late season race competing with some big events else where so last year had a very low turnout.  Not a big deal for me since I usually find myself riding solo anyway.  I was very glad to see the Fat Frogs crew give it a chance again this year though.

Last year's race was muddy.  It had rained and rained, then was 30 degrees so nothing dried up.  It was a sticky, gooey mud.  The laps were long.  I think the 45 minute race was 3 laps (maybe 2).  Most of the course was off the bike.

This year's race was muddy.  It was currently raining and was in the 60's.  Much better conditions.  The course had been shortened and more of it was ridable.  Still a very long course when it came to how long it took.  The 45 minute race was 4 laps this year.

I chose to do the Master's 35+ this year.  It was my anniversary and the earlier start would allow me to get home quicker to my bride.  Here is what I looked like during the race:

 

Photo by: Keith Bernstein

 

Photo by: Keith Bernstein

Photo by: Keith Bernstein

 

Photo by: Keith Bernstein

Photo by Pablo Custodio

Photo by: Keith Bernstein

Photos can be found at the following links:

http://www.pablocustodio.com/XCross-toberfest.htm

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=1213920&fbid=1511934490184&op=1&o=global&view=global&subj=1665254022&id=1589065989#!/album.php?aid=75186&id=1589065989

Cyclocross Review: Top Mounted Brake Levers

 

You either love them or hate them, use them or don't, or maybe you have no idea whether they should stay or go.  I'm talking about the top mounted brake levers that come on many cyclocross bikes.

My Giant TCX came with them and I used them during the first year I rode cross.  I almost felt like I used them too much.  I don't typically ride the tops when on the road, so that riding position was as natural for me.  Last year I upgraded some stuff on the bike and took those levers off.  I personally feel like for me it was the right move.

There are some very good cross racers who use them, but at the same time it seems like if you buy a high end cross bike, they don't come with them.

I did an internet search and found a few forums about people talking about this.  Here is what I found:

Benefits:
More control over the bike when going down steep descends.  Less likely to do this:

More control during technical trail riding.
More control of your speed when approaching barriers.

Downsides:
Bars are too cramped.
The brakes become too much of a crutch.  In other words, you use them more than you should.
For many roadies it puts them in an awkward riding position.
Added weight to the bike.

I tend to do 90% of my CX riding on the hoods, so removal of those levers made sense.  For many CX racers with a mountain bike background, much of the riding might be done on the tops, in which those levers may come in handy.

Feel free to leave your opinions.

Want The Win

With the road season behind us (for most of us) and CX season here, many racers can now look at their past season and asked the questions of whether it was successful or not.  Also, what will the cyclocross season hold.

What makes a successful season?  I think for most racers it is a higher than last year number of wins.  What if you are not a winning cyclist?  How close did you come to that win?

These are the type of questions I have asked myself.  These questions along with some serious realizations have really shaped my mindset and motivated me for not only the CX season, but for next year's road season as well.

How many times has this been you?

How about this?

This last year I started becoming very interested in sports psychology.  I bought a book called "Mind Gym".  There was a section in that talked about athletes self-destructing themselves because they were afraid to win.  Afraid to win, seriously?  Then I thought about cycling.  What are the efforts that many times put you in a winning position?  They are hard and explosive.  If they don't succeed you stand a great chance of being dropped.  Is being dropped embarrassing to you?

One of the things I did this year was put on my stem a saying.  My stem had the phrase "Want the Win".  It reminded me that I needed to want the win more than I feared the loss.  I don't think that I completely did that this year.  I think it helped improve my confidence but I don't think I totally moved from fearing to lose.  A perfect example was the final race of the year at Bay Days.  I wanted to win and even asked my team to help set me up.  That request really put the fear of the loss high up.  When you tell people you can win, you should probably win.  My team did the perfect job.  I should have attacked on the last lap in corner number three.  That distance away is my specialty.  However, I feared that if I went too early and failed, that I would be embarrassed and let the team down.  Instead I followed an attack that occurred and waited until the final stretch where I wasn't able to go around.  I played it safe and lost.

My wife just got me a Road ID.  The saying on bottom is "WANT THE WIN".  That is how I plan to race from this point on.  It may mean being dropped at times when I put it all on the line, but I want that win.

Building Mad Skills: Cycling Skill Drills

Its the time of year to dust off your pride and start working on skills.  Some take this opportunity to practice CX skills exclusively and others use it as a chance to work some well needed road and handling skills. 

How many racers out there actually work on road skills?  Do you meet up with teammates and practice cornering, pack riding, bumping or control drills?  How many feel that if you have been racing for more than just a few years you probably are beyond the skill drills?

It is commonly said that if you think you need to work on skills you probably do.  If you don't think you need to work on them then you absolutely do.

I have taken this chance with my young racers to get them in the habit of working skills.  For them it is something different.  Both of these 10 year old kids will race cyclocross this year so these bike handling on control skills will benefit them in that aspect.  More importantly though is that these skills are directly targeted to get them more comfortable on the road bike and improve their pack riding, corning and confidence.  Probably more important than all of that is that these kids are having a real good time.  More fun than just going out and doing intervals or long rides right now.

Here are a couple examples of their drills and things that can easily be done with a group or simply a pair of racers.

Narrow alleyway drill.  I started with them slowly riding elbow to elbow through this alleyway that is just about 4 feet wide.  The idea here was to get them used to riding next to someone else.  We took it a step further and made them approach it at speed.  Great confidence builder.

Bumping and handling drills.  A small square area was set up using the flag.  One rider enters and sees how long he can stay in.  At least every 30 seconds he has to change direction of travel.  After comfort is built doing that, the second rider is introduced.  They both attempt to stay in while avoiding or riding around each other.  Finally they get the chance to bump each other.  They start using tactics like cutting to the inside and forcing the other out.  Its good fun, great confidence and increases bike handling and comfort.  Its important to maintain control of the bike by holding the drops.  This will help prevent handlebars from tangling.

Hampton Bay Days Race Report and Pics

A race on 9/11, a race on the old Bay Days course I competed on as a junior, a race on a downtown course with a festival occurring...it all adds up to some very good racing.

The Virginia Beach Wheelmen participated in the Cat 4 race with Zach Kyler taking 7th place, the Cat 1/2/3 race with Kevin Horvath competing and then the Cat 3 race with Kevin Horvath, John Gray, Mike Tamayo and myself.

I really wanted to win this race.  It would have been a perfect set up for my first win.  As a firefighter I wanted to race while showing a tribute to 9/ll.  I have also been close this year with a 3rd place at Fort Lee and a 2nd place at Bryan Park Circuit Race.  I asked my team to for the support.  I am usually the leadout man but this time I was asking to be set up for the win.

Kevin was our first line of defense.  He went with early attacks with the idea that if I didn't win, at least a Wheelmen would win.  Next Mike and John took turns in making bridges and getting to the front to ensure a steady pace.

I kept an eye on who was attacking and definitely had a pick on who I was going to follow.  About midway through the race there were numerous attacks from racers that I had marked.  I went, bridged and chased a few of them down giving my teammates a chance to recover.

With 10 laps to go Mike told me to get on his wheel.  He kept me in 3rd position.  If an acceleration occurred that he couldn't fully cover, he would get me close to launch me.  He then would recover and come right back up to me.  A true teammate and friend.  John at this time also helped cover some moves and make sure everything stayed together.

I was feeling good about the whole situation.  We came up on the bell lap with Jeff Craddock setting the pace, Mike on his wheel and me on his.  Out of the 3rd turn an acceleration was made.  I was forced to go around Mike's wheel to cover it after he got me very close to it.  As soon as it was covered, another attack occurred.  I once again jumped on that wheel.  Out of the 4th turn on the home stretch I stood up to sprint around the Carrytown racer.  I was in too big of a gear.

The picture says it all.  Lost in the sprint.  My first win still has eluded me and it looks like it won't occur in 2010.  It was close and I know I need to work on my sprinting speed and technique.  With more work I know in 2011 I will have many 1st place finishes.

For now, though, I was happy with my 2nd place.  I was thrilled with the team effort and I think the team was happy with the results.  The ability to work together as a team toward the common goal, and sacrifice your own results for another's glory is what team racing is all about.  I would rather share a 2nd place with my team then earn a win on my own. 

By the way, great racing by everyone in that race.  It was fast and steady with many attacks.  I was pretty surprised it ended in a sprint.

The following day I raced the same course for the 30+ Virginia State Championship.  It was raining and very slippery.  There were crashes in every race of the day.  After the 2nd lap when I nearly went down and many racers behind me did crash, I never felt comfortable.  So about half way through I simply pulled out and decided to end the season safely.

All photo's taken by Pablo Custodio.

A Racing Tribute to 9/11

Three local firefighters, three Hampton Roads Cities, one team.  Mike Tamayo of the Chesapeake Fire Department, John Gray of the Suffolk Fire Department and me, Joshua Goyet of the Virginia Beach Fire Department, all of the Virginia Beach Wheelmen, could not think of a better tribute to 9/11 victims and heroes then to race our bikes.

Also racing for the Virginia Beach Wheelmen on this day was Kevin Horvath, who as a City of Chesapeake mechanic, helps ensure public safety stays on the streets.

Why race our bikes on 9/11?  BECAUSE WE CAN!  The terrorist may have changed a lot 9 years ago, but they did not take our freedom.  On this day, remember what happened, but remember what happened while having fun and exercising your freedoms.

That is what we wanted to do on this beautiful Saturday morning.  I circled this race on the calendar when I saw it being held on September 11th.  I trained for it, prepared for it, and asked my team to support me for the win.

Support is exactly what was given.  Then again, what would you expect from a bunch of firefighters?  So the Virginia Beach Wheelmen arrived in Hampton ready to race and to show mourning and support of 9/11 victims in our own way.

My race number, by special request was 343.  That is number of firefighters that died 9 years ago.

On our calves were written the numbers "911" and "343":

On our thighs were written the words "Never Forget":

Our team logo draped front and back of our jerseys:

In our hearts and on our minds we carried the thoughts of that day.  Where we were, what were we doing, how was this going to change our lives?  Nine years later, there we were racing our bikes, hanging out with friends and enjoying life as an American.  Sure things have changed, but thanks to our brave men and women in the armed forces, we are still free and we can still have a good time, even on September 11th.

Live every day like it is 9/12/01.  Remember how we all came together and how many American Flags flew on that day and the months to follow.

For those that protect our freedom, thank you for letting me race my bike.