Velochallenge

Looks like google has some interesting tricycles to map the footpaths around UK. After seeing the pic of the trike, it just makes me wonder if it would work for cyclcross?

Google Trikerider

I guess global warming is to blame for the wonderful weather we’ve been experiencing lately. The Barton course was a complete dust bowl. The course itself was realtivity flat with two challenging run ups and plenty of loose gravel. I should know, since not out 200 meters of my first race I washed out in first corner, leaving my shifting all missed up.

Well after some tinkering I had the bike working, but decided to hang it up. But some of my fellow team members talked me into riding the B’s. So, what the heck, I decided to jump in with both feet and join the B ranks. I must say there are a few differences between the B and C ranks:

• They’re skinner (10-15lbs lighter)
• Fewer of them (compared to 120+ C racers)
• Not as fast as I thought

As I lined up I felt like a freaking Clysdale compared to half the group. Now granted I am in the process of loosing weight, not that I’m big or anything for the record I’m 179. Just want to be ready for the upcoming road season so I can tackle my goal of moving to cat 3 on the road.

So as usual I found myself in the back of the pack at the start. I know, really need to get up to the front at the start. Anyways, the first few laps were great, simply tried to stay within my limits. Just push it just enough to where I’m feeling the burn in the legs. Well, those freaking run-ups sure didn’t help matters. That transfer from on the bike to off the bike to back on the bike wrecked havok on my legs. Photographer over at Photofaction got a nice sequence of me “Not” running up the hills. If you can’t figure it out I’m the one at the front that doesn’t move in the pictures. Pic 1, Pic 2, Pic 3, Pic 4

Well with only a few more cross races on the calendar I’m not too worried about it. Just shooting to get placing mid pack and I’ll be happy. My main focus for the rest of the cross season is just to keep my pace up and work on increasing my endurance before I go into winter training with my team.

So I thought I would go ahead and try my hand at a time trial event. I’m not much for time trials myself, for me its a very lonely race and I personally prefer mass start events like road race, crits, and my favorite track racing. Overall, it was a descent ride, minus the cramp in my right leg 45 minutes into the effort. Not sure why I got the cramp, had a good breakfast, nice long warm-up with a few jumps, made sure I hit the start sweating, did some stretches prior. Anyways, once that cramp set in I had to back-off the pace it was just to painful to continue at my previous pace. Well I know one of my goals for next year. Marking down to get better at time trails. I know I’ll get some good practice during cyclocross.

Well decided I would show up for to short track on monday, but due to a last minute meeting at work I was late an missed my start time for my category. Thankfully, Kris Schamp was nice enough to let me ride in the Expert class, heck its all about training right? Well that did not bold so well, as soon as we started my chain decided to have a mind of its own. The chain would just jump off the front chain ring with any pressure being applied, I did not even make it through the first turn. I just said screw it and pulled off track. Well next week I’m brining my cross bike. Heck get some good practice since the USGP of Cyclocross is going to be held out there.