dirt for two

Brighton Stage Race. I came, I saw, I didn't get embarrassed

2010-05-18T07:36:00.000-07:00

We did the Tailwind, USAC stage race last weekend. It had been a number of years since I had done one of these things, like way back to Whiskey Creek days. I knew it would be pushing my recent lack of training to do this race, but I also didn't want that to be an excuse for not going out and having fun with my racing peeps. Here's the way the weekend broke down:

ACT I: The Prologue
The weekend began late Sat. morning with a 7 mile or so trip around the infamous Torn Shirt trail. Although it's not a trail I am very familiar with I have ridden it in the past and appreciated the technical aspects of it...... Plus I just really like time trials. Many of the fastest riders in the state were here for this race, and starting in front of me was Bells Beer/Quiring Cycles rider Jason Lummis and behind me was Mark Parmelee from CycleTherapy bicycles. Fast guy in front of me, fast guy behind me. That was plenty of motivation to keep me from slacking, even for a second. I had a clean lap and rode pretty close to my max. I didn't get passed by Mark, and nearly caught Jason (but not quite). I was very satisfied with my 5th place finish, because I was right in the game. My lack of knowing the trail had left me only seconds from 3rd place. My full suspension bike was proving to be just the tool for the job.

Act II: Chinese Water Torture
Later Sat. afternoon we went over to a big grassy area for a short track race. The course was .8 miles long and twisted and turned through the grass, over a few dirt mounds and down a short paved road. Flat, non-technical and all about being fit-just the kind of thing to expose my lack of training. Yes, I was dreading it long before Robert blew the start whistle. I got the holeshot and lead the pack around for the first 2/3 of the first lap. But there were 7 laps all toll and I spent the remaining 6 1/3 of them just trying to will myself to stay with whatever rider had just passed me. It was a very hard 20+ minutes to be sure. The crowds of people cheering us on was a big help. I finished down towards the bottom of the elite field, and lost enough time that I had dropped to 8th place for the stage. But the good news was that I didn't lose a big chunk of time and Sunday's long cross country race would still provide me with plenty of opportunity to make up time doing what I love-riding my bike in the woods.

ACT III: Just Go Ride the Darn Bike!
That is what I told myself before the 37 mile XC race. No heart rate monitor, no counting the seconds needed to move up in the standings, just go out and ride the stupid bike. Easy as that.... sort of anyway :-) I was placed in the middle of the starting field of elite riders base on a call up system. No holeshot this time. When the whistle blew the field went out like lightning, every bit as fast as when I went out for the time trial the previous day-only this race was going to be 5 times as long. The first lap was spent in a line of elite athletes, just waiting to see who might blink first and let up on the pace. Not unlike a physical and mental game of chicken. At the end of the first lap Jason Lummis and I punched it on a gradual uphill and we got a gap on the riders that had been behind us. I was looking forward to riding with Jason and letting him use his local knowledge of the trail bring us back to the leaders, but just then he dropped his chain and I was alone for much of the day after that.
On the third lap I caught and passed 3 riders. Jeff Wittbrodt of Racing Greyhounds, Paul Borden of Team Fraser and Cory Stange of Maxxis. I was now in 5th place. The laps weren't getting any easier, but they weren't really getting harder either. I just kept a steady pace, enjoying my ride, nature and celebrating what it feels like to really live. On the 5th and final lap of the Murray Lake trail I got a little lazy, not tired as much as lazy. Thinking about work, Jody, and other things not related to the race I was in. With about 2 miles to go I caught a glimpse of a bike a few turns in front of me, then I saw another bike a few turns in front of that. I put the last of my energy into catching them. I nearly caught Kyle Stange (Maxxis), but couldn't quite pull him in. I sat up a little, letting myself be content with 5th. But just at that second I heard Paul Borden's brakes on a corner behind me! This woke me up again and I was scared enough to finish strong, keeping Paul behind me and I crossed the line 15 seconds behind Kyle. I raced for 2:40 or so. Long day in the saddle.

Epilogue:
I ended up 5th for the weekend. I was about 50 seconds away from 4th and a minute away from 3rd. After about 3 1/2 hours of racing for the weekend Christian Tanguy of Team CF edged Steve Dempsey of Bells MTB/Quiring cycles by about 25 seconds. Jody had a decent weekend, had some trouble in the time trial but then rebounded with a strong showing in the short track. Fought hard in the long XC and was 3rd in the women's elite field for the weekend. Lots of our Cross Country Cycle teammates where there. We all supported each other with encouraging cheers during the races and laughter after them. A great weekend with perfect weather, perfect trail conditions and good friends.

Taking it in Stages...

2010-05-17T07:26:00.000-07:00

I was third for the weekend at Brighton. All things considered I don't have a lot to complain about except....

Stage One: Torn Shirt TT, Fourth Place. I crashed three times and put a bump in my rear wheel. It rubbed on the chain stays most of the race, plus I had to run up all the hills. I don't know why this is. Hills I can make on my single speed during a normal training ride I can't muscle up during a race. I find this very frustrating. It is obviously where I lose time. Niel said I have to practice getting off the bike and running. If I wanted to run I would be wearing Asics Gels not Sidis for crying out loud. I think I just need to learn how to will my legs to not turn to Jello when I approach a hill in a race.

Stage Two: Short Track, Second Place- The most fun I had all weekend! I had never raced short track before and I absolutely loved it, plus the second place made me feel like I was back in the game.

Stage Three: XC Murray Lake, Fifth Place- This is my favorite kind of race. It was long and hard. I rode pretty clean and made all the hills, but they seemed big after the second lap. For a moment while I was out there I had the thought that I would be 700% faster if I had gears, but later on the podium I came to my senses. Seriously. I was took third for the entire weekend riding against some really fast women. They have gears. I don't. Sometimes it has to be about doing the best you can with what you've got.

Granny's Garden and Greased Lightening

2010-05-02T18:00:00.000-07:00

So I raced today. I won't give you a play by play, but I will fill you in on some of the highlights. I RODE GRANNY'S GARDEN CLEAN FOR THE FIRST TIME TODAY IN LIKE.....FOREVER! This may seem like small change to some people. Perhaps it is, but it is a major accomplishment for me. There is that one spot right after the dried up creek crossing with the root and that stupid block. Do you know the one I am talking about? Well I rarely make it over that root on my single speed. I am sure it is a mental thing. I know I am physically capable, but I can never seem to hit it at the right speed, or take the right line. I don't know how many times I have botched that one spot, gone back and tried again just to repeat the same thing. I've tried everything, but I found the secret ingredient is to have Shari Bos-Versluis hot on your wheel. I heard the clickity click of a girl with gears and I knew I didn't have much choice. She's is The Farmers wife and I could not wrap my mind around running up that dinky hill in front of her. Could you?!?!? Seriously. So anyway... I make it, and she yells out, "NICE JOB JODY!" to which I respond, "I can't believe I just made that Shari!" I was in disbelief for the next couple miles, but strongly encouraged by her words, so much so, that I made it over that stupid root every time after that. I was so geeked about it that I over shot the finish line which added about 15 seconds to my time. So I am a little over zealous sometimes. What can I say?

My most favorite part of the day was trying to catch up with a couple of brothers that ride for The Motion Initiative. Their names are Zachary and Brendan Christian. The deal was this. I was going to get my award and then catch up with them to encourage them along; help them stay focused right? I was humbled. I caught the tail end of the kid racers, but Zachary and Brendan were like greased lightening. I never saw them, but they were still breathing heavy when I crossed the finish line. They both finished with impressive times! Zachary took fourth in Beginner Men 11-14 with a time of 1:01:08. Although they ride different age groups, Zachary's brother Brendan brought an element of sibling rivalry with a third place finish in the 10 and under category. His time was 1:03:59! I think next time if I place, I might just skip the awards and ride out with them. I think they could teach me a thing or two.

Breaking Away

2010-04-28T14:10:00.000-07:00

If you know Niel and me, then you know two people whose lives have been impacted by Multiple Sclerosis. MS is a degenerative condition that attacks the central nervous system. Symptoms can range from a mild numbness to paralysis or blindness. For those with MS, the future is at best uncertain. Every individual is affected differently.

In November 2001 the tip of my left middle finger went numb. In three days time I lost partial function and feeling on the left side of my body. If I extended my arm out from my side, it would flail about as if it had a mind of its own. I could not tie my own shoes, put my hair in a pony tail, or do anything that required the use of two hands. Although I could walk, I couldn’t go more than 25 ft without losing my breath because it felt like someone was sitting on my chest. A neurological itch developed on the left side of my head, neck, back and chest. It felt like my skin was being shrink wrapped to my bones. The best I could do was roll around on the floor crying while I clawed myself bloody. This was the beginning of a very scary and uncertain 3 months of testing…. and waiting.

On February 2, 2002 the official diagnosis came in. I was diagnosed with Relapsing Remitting Multiple Sclerosis. Relief came just by knowing what it was I was dealing with, but along with that diagnosis came a million questions and a whole new set of fears. The first place I called was the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. They had tons of resources available, and the latest information on research and treatment. The understanding and compassion that was relayed over that telephone line was priceless.

Much has changed for me since February 2002. Now when I open my eyes in the morning I am grateful I can see. When I swing my legs over the edge of the bed, I am grateful they hold me up. Another thing that has changed is I try to take care of myself as best I can. Other than popcorn and ice-cream, I eat pretty healthy. I quit smoking about four years ago. Right around that time my friend Eric re-introduced me to my first love and this has been my saving grace, my bicycle. When the uncertainty of my future gets to be too much, I swing my leg over the bike, clip in and pedal through it. I cannot express to you in words how much my bike and the ability to ride it means to me. It has opened up a whole new world for me to live in.

This disease can leave those diagnosed and their loved ones feeling rather helpless, so you can imagine how happy I was to find out that I could help those effected by MS simply by doing what I love to do most…ride my bicycle. I am blessed to have met someone who seems to tolerate me, and shares the same biking obsession. We plan to ride 200 miles together in the Bike MS West Michigan Breakaway on June 12& 13th. If you want to help us change the future for those with MS, you can do so by clicking here. I would love it if you could help Niel and I support the organization that was there for me when I needed it most. Thank you so much for your time and support.

Pontiac Lake Race Report

2010-04-27T19:54:00.000-07:00

Dr. Wyle: "So what have you been doing?"

Me: "Racing my bike."

Dr. Wyle: "Mountain Bike?"

Me: "Of course."

Dr. Wyle: "So HOW are you doing?"

Me: (with as much humility as I could muster...)"I took third in the Elite/Expert class Sunday."

Dr. Wyle: "You are giving Multiple Sclerosis a bad name."

Me: "I am alright with that."

Dr. Wyle: "Keep doing it. You'd be stupid not to."

I love my neurologist. He gets why I do what I do. It's not to impress anyone. It's not to podium. Those things are cool and all, but I do it because...

I can.

...I hope I never forget that.

Pot roast and Cone World.... and the Yankee Springs time trial

2010-04-19T19:07:00.000-07:00

Sounds great doesn't it? It was. It was also what we ate the night before the Yankee Springs TT last weekend. Most other racer types might cringe at such a thought, and I would have to acknowledge it's not the preferred pre-race meal. Jody's pot roast really tasted good. You could taste the love that goes into a home cooked meal. Shortly after dinner we decided a trip to Cone World was in order. A waffle cone soft serve and chocolate dipped chocolate cone came through the window and into our waiting hands. We made short work of the fabulous treats. My point? My point is that we often times worry about trivial things. You know what is more important than having a well balanced meal with the proper proportions of each food group before a race? Having a low level of stress. I have often times been guilty of eating wheat pasta and a salad the night before a race but biting my fingernails down to the nubs, of waking up more tired than when I went to bed. It's human nature-especially for competitive types. Last Saturday I didn't do that.

The race:
We pulled into the Deep Lake Unit drive about 8:30am, and it was cold, really cold, like 28 degrees cold. The sun was bright in the sky. It was a beautiful morning. I picked up my number plate with the number 1 on it, and with cold fingers twist-tied it to my bike. At 9:15, wearing lots of clothes, I went out for a warm-up lap. The course was sandy, but I've seen it worse. I did a lap of the course minus "The Pines" and got to the start 6 minutes before I was to leave the line. I shed a bunch of clothes, leaving me with shorts, a long and a short sleeved shirt and my trusty wooley-booley wool socks.
Soon I was off and racing, and I had a little trouble clipping in off the start-but I just went with it and I was motoring down the trail in no time. My first lap was possibly the best riding I had ever done at Yankee. I powered my full-suspension S-Works right through any and all obstacles. I was riding smooth, but was pushing my body to it's max. Then, with about a mile left in the first lap my handlebars turned. I tried to ignore it, but soon reality set in, I needed to fix this! I didn't panic. I simply pulled off the trail, grabbed the tool pouch from my pocket, opened the multi-tool, grabbed the 4mm allen, tossed my tool pouch to the ground, tightened the top bolt on the stem, dropped my tool to the ground, mounted my bike and pedaled away. All this was done without panic, without frustration and without stress.
The first lap ended with dozens of spectators cheering as I was the first bike to complete a lap. I heard noise, but saw no faces.
The second lap had barely begun when I heard a buzzing noise. Matter of fact, I reached down and pulled a stick out of the chain/derailleur. I hopped back on the bike again, telling myself to treat this and the stem clamp incident as brief rests.
I knew I was down to 30 minutes of racing left, and I bumped up the heart rate a little. The next 20 minutes passed in the blink of an eye-I was in a zone.
Approaching the rootiest, nastiest climb on the course I felt my legs weaken, but I still decided to take the hill head on. I went right up the middle of it. But this time I was a few watts low on power and struggled up and over, it wasn't fast or graceful. I gathered myself at the top, allowing just a few precious slow pedals before digging in for the final push.
The finish line came after 1:30:23.1 of perfectly imperfect racing. I had tried my best, and not let my ideas of how things should be affect how things actually happened. I won the race by 25 seconds. 25 seconds, I wish I knew exactly how much stress, angst, self-doubt, ect. adds up to 25 seconds. I am fairly certain is doesn't take much at all.
Pot roast and Cone World. So, maybe I didn't necessarily ride faster than everyone else, maybe I just stressed less....

Victory Twice as Sweet.... the 2010 Barry-Roubaix

2010-03-27T13:32:00.000-07:00

Our first race of the year, at least the first race involving dirt on bike tires. The 2010 Barry-Roubaix Spring classic. A self-glossed "Killer Dirt Road Race". This race may still be in it's infancy, but it drew about 700 participants. Start time for the rolling mass start was 10:00am. We arrived about 8:30am and it was COLD out! It was well below freezing. As the Sun rose the temps did too, but s*l*o*w*l*y. When we rolled away from the state park starting area it was about 35-37 degrees. As the mass of rolling humanity followed behind the state police cruiser we shivered. But somehow, as the pace vehicle pulled off and the race was full force, I no longer knew or cared what the temps were. Jody and I got a nice start from our place in the sport wave. We caught the only tandem that was in front of us and quickly dropped them. We were in front, but there was more than 30 miles to go.

We got to a super sandy road, filled with skinny tired cyclocross bikes strewn about. I took a deep breath and tried to relax as we wove in and out of sand, people, bikes, and more sand. Jody kept encouraging me and we really did a good job of keeping forward momentum and staying on the bike. We were almost to the end of the bad section when a bike swerved in front of us out of control. I braked, didn't hit it, but did lose focus (and momentum). The front wheel turned past the point of no return and we went down. We jumped up and attempted to get going again, but in the midst of adrenalin and oxygen deficit I somehow was at a loss for trying to remount. After about 30 seconds I took another breath, and just simply got back on the bike. Most things look way harder than they are, or so I am told.

We hadn't noticed any tandems go by, but we didn't want to leave anything to chance. We soon settled into the theme of the rest of the race: passing large groups of riders like they were barely pedaling. We followed a plan, go hard, but not too hard on the hills, then let the tandem do what it does best; go about 30mph on flats and 40mph down hills! When we got to the rolling hills we were right in our comfort zone. Momentum gained on the downhills carried us most of the way up the next. At the 25 mile mark other riders started to tire, but because we had two sets of legs, had employed a strategy, and were riding as a team were just hitting our stride.

It just felt so good to hear the riders cheering us on as we went by. We pulled riders along as we powered on. If we were on flats the cx bikes could hang on for a while. If it was a gradual uphill, we would have a long train behind us, then when we would get to a downhill or a set of rollers they would drop off. We passed lots of people we knew, pausing just briefly to say hello, or woohoo, or something of the sort, then we would put our heads down and motor again. When I would start to get a little tired the back of the tandem would start moving around a little. That's what happens when the stoker is out-pedaling the captain! That's real motivation right there!

We finally caught the faster guys in the 35 race. It took longer to reel them in, and longer to drop them. We rolled up the last climb-a long, grueling paved climb; gradual, but LONG, especially after about 3500 feet of climbing was in our wake. We finally had the finish line in our sights, and I sat up to just roll across it as I normally do. But just then I felt the back of the tandem bouncing around again! Jody wasn't really down with my "stylin' and profilin" finish line technique. She is about never giving up, never backing down. I'm still working on that.

After the race we were treated to time with our mtb friends. Friends we haven't seen in months (or years), friends that we never knew before this day, but will always remember.

Jody and I won the tandem class with a time of 1:54 and some change for the 35 mile course. Our friends Mike and Kathy were 2nd. Really cool to see how much they improved from last year, about 5 minutes faster on a course that was 3 miles longer! That's like improving by 15 minutes. That's the great thing about tandems, it makes cycling a team sport, and that makes it mean so much more.

My Point of View

2010-03-25T03:28:00.001-07:00

We took a quick spin around Holland yesterday on the tandem. As we road along the road we talked about strategy for the upcoming race Saturday, our competition, and how not to die on those down hill turns in loose gravel. Before I knew it we were entering the Riley St trails for a little taste of single track. We began to reminisce about our first venture in the woods on "T" together. It was last August when we first got together. You all know the frame of mind people are in when relationships are new. I could have base jumped from the Amway Grand with no chute and landed on my feet totally unscathed then ran a complete marathon. Not that I have the desire to do either of those things, but I could'a. I'm just sayin'.

It was right about this time that I got the best idea I have ever had. I asked my friend Brian if we (me with minimal experience, and Niel with NONE!) could borrow his tandem. I am guessing Brian is the type of guy who likes to laugh when his friends get hurt, because he didn't even hesitate. And that is when my next best idea ever developed....OWASSIPE ON THE TANDEM! And so we did, quite well actually. We made all but 1.5 of the hills, didn't crash, didn't fight or even draw blood. As we road along on the rather tame trails of Riley St, we both were in disbelief of what we had accomplished way back then and couldn't figure out why in God's name we ever even attempted it.

I guess that is what the newness of a relationship can do though. It makes you believe in things you normally wouldn't, like yourself or someone else. It makes you take risks that you wouldn't otherwise fathom and it catapults you into a future unknown, much like riding on the back of a tandem. A lot has happened since our maiden voyage at Owassipe. We have traveled some rough trail together, bombed down some hills, navigated some sustainable and unsustainable re-routes, and the hills...man have we climbed some hills! Through it all we have discovered that we don't always see eye to on on things, but me being me...I don't foresee me changing my point of view for any reason....

I am pretty happy with the one I've got. :-)

P.S. Special thanks go out to BK, for sharing "T" and the love of tandem cycling on single track with us!

Sights and Sounds of the Barry-Roubaix pre-ride

2010-03-23T20:15:00.000-07:00

Brett was a soul crushing monster out there today!

A shot of me and "T"

My navigator kept us on track, for the most part :-)

I didn't realize how fast we were going here, thought we were just spinning down the road enjoying the sights.

Fisk Knobb TT report, the good news I didn't try to coast!

2010-03-21T14:38:00.000-07:00

First race of the year, and I think Jody and I did it up right. We both entered the fixed gear class, I even had flat bars and a super cool pair of old cut off jeans! We were just hoping to shake the rust off and get some heavy breathing in..... so to speak ;-). We got there about 2 1/2 hours before our start time because we had to finish registration. We didn't even think we were gonna' be doing the race, we had missed the entry cut off and put our names on the waiting list. They called earlier in the week so we were able to ride our fixies against skinny leg shavers!!
The race: The temps were about 45 or so, the sun was out and the wind was from the east at about 7mph; meaning we would have to ride into it on the finishing leg. I warmed up by going up and down a big hill about a dozen times, maybe not the best idea but it felt good at the time. I had a big gear on the San Francisco Treat, 53/16. I was pretty confident that as long as I didn't blow up I could turn it, but I was a little concerned about the big hill-top finish.

Jody started just 30 seconds in front of me, how cool is that?! The course was out and back, two way traffic, so that meant I saw her out on the course three different times! So I knew I could'nt slack or I would hear it from her! :-D

The starter said go, and I went. We headed down a big, long hill. Even with the big gear my legs were spinning like mad! I even had to feather the brake on my bike to keep from scrambling what is left of my brain matter! I negotiated the first corner and passed by Jody's smiling face, and settled in to a manageable heart rate zone. Soon there was a rider right on me. I was a little disappointed, he was a BIG guy, but he was also really strong, like a diesel. He got a little bit of a gap on me, but this kept me motivated, riding just out of my reach.

I had told myself I would go hard at this race, but I wouldn't let myself have a negative training day. This was the first time this year I have gone hard for any length of time. I really just couldn't get to a high heart rate even if I wanted to. So I stayed smooth and enjoyed the simple, soul cleansing ride of the fixed gear bike, enjoying passing all the riders in their skin suits, aero helmets, TT bikes, shoe covers, ect. I REALLY enjoyed that! When I turned and headed east into the wind it hurt, but I gritted my teeth, put my head down and tried to turn the gear as best as I could. I gained a little on the guy that passed me on the rollers into the wind.
We took a left turn and then there was just a little over a mile to go, all up hill! The first 1/2 mile was gradual, then there were two hills within the hill. The first one required me to stand,but I held back just a little, yet I was still catching the guy in front of me. The second tier of the hill was steep. I once again gritted my teeth, stood and just plain mashed up the hill. I passed the big guy on the TT bike like he was going backwards, it felt awesome and it propelled me the rest of the way the finish line.

Before the race I had said I hoped to go 47 or 48 minutes, I went 48:15 or something like that. Not fast enough to win, but almost two minutes faster than when I rode it on a geared road bike two years ago. I'm happy with where my training is. I was strong at the finish, and I am not at all sore as I type this. I still have a long way to go, but I am as fast as I should be in March.

Jody had a very good race. She raced a 25 year old Raleigh with heavy 27 inch wheels and went 58 minutes flat. This would have slotted her 3rd in the women's 40+ class!!

After the race we enjoyed the great soup and conversation with our biking friends. Saw Danielle for the first time in like forever. talked to Terry S., Terry B., and so many others. Saw Wade, Ray and his wife and son, my dad was their spectating and even saw an old motorcycling friend. Yes, it was a great day.

Not a Bad Week Last Week, For a Rest Week That is.

2010-03-14T19:07:00.000-07:00

The dreaded rest week. The necessary evil. They are not unappreciated on Monday, maybe not even on Tuesday, but by the time mid-week gets here I start getting twitchy (like Tweak from South Park). I start thinking I need more training. I need to lose weight. That kind of thing. I get to ride a little, and at a slow pace, but it doesn't fill the void. By the time the weekend arrives I just really miss the feeling of enjoyment I get from bike and person operating as one. Of my face feeling flush from breathing too hard. I just miss being myself.

Today we wrapped up the rest week with a 2 hour ride around the West Side. The temps had returned to the more seasonal low to mid-40s. There was a northerly wind and, at times, some mist in the air. But I was happy to be outdoors. We pedaled through Grandville and then out to the area around Butterworth Dr. We went all over the area, enjoying the rolling hills and wooded scenery. We were both on singlespeeds, but Jody was rocking her new Rockhopper 29er Expert SS. Here are a few pictures of it.

I took it nice and easy, with just one exception. Someone on a Sligshot DDX cyclocross bike blew right by us (w/o even saying hello). So, of course I had to chase him down, just to show him (well, myself actually) that I could :-D But then I backed off again. After 2:10 we were back, and done with the rest week. We are both really looking forward to getting back to riding and training again. But mostly we are just looking forward to getting back to being who we are.

Jody wondering if I can make it through the flooded path, but knowing that she can....

I got Fixed Today...

2010-03-12T18:26:00.000-08:00

Yes, I got fixed recently. It didn't hurt at all, in fact it felt awesome! No, I'm not talking about a surgical procedure, but rather my first fixed gear bicycle! I put it together yesterday, and Jody brought her fixie out to Holland and we went for a ride. The first thing I did was forget that there is no coasting and almost catapulted myself over the bars! But in no time really I felt very comfortable. I have ridden singlespeed road bikes quite often over the years, but this was even better. Even more simplified. Get on the bike and pedal, period!

Our route was very apropos. We headed toward the farm country of Ottawa county, through the area of where I spent my early childhood years. Riding past my elementary school, North Holland Elementary. Pointing out the spot where I first kissed a girl. Then we rode on to the road I lived on, 112th ave. The red brick house and old barn had been torn down and replaced with a modern home and a pole barn, this saddened me.

We finished up our loop and I went back to work at the bike shop for the rest of the night. The time flew by as my thoughts were filled with the great bike, the great ride and the great company that was my afternoon.

Bicycles and Ball Holders

2010-03-09T02:44:00.000-08:00

After a weekend of many hours on the bike, yesterday was a much needed day of rest for me. The sunshine and warmer temperatures were doing their best to seduce me to get back on my bike, but I was able to abstain, purely because I had a new hill to climb right in the middle of my living room. You see, I had opened up my pie hole just enough times over the weekend about how "We SO need to get the BALL!" that after our ride to Grant and back on Sunday, Niel bought one for...us? I must say, he did touch it last night to demonstrate a rotating sit-up I had a question about.

Anyway, I spent about 30 minutes on Sunday night attacking the ball with the hand pump, but still had not inflated it to the proper circumference of 80 inches. When I woke up yesterday I knew I would need a pot of coffee and a full breakfast if I was to succeed in inflating it the rest of the way. Another 15 minutes of maximum heart rate via hand pump and the ball was pumped up and ready to go, but I was already tired from my workout before my work out. Determined to not let the Ball get the best of me I put in the video and followed along as best I could. I quickly discovered that doing a Ball workout sandwiched between my desk and the couch isn't the place to fine tune my my skills. Between the bikes and furniture crammed in my living room, something has got to go. I contemplated what furniture would find it's new home next to the dumpster, but the Papasan chair does make a very nice ball holder for those times when Niel isn't using it. ;-)

Moving Forward

2010-03-06T14:48:00.000-08:00

Got outside today, and went for a ride from Holland to Saugatuck and back (with a few detours). Jody, my dad, Randy, Gary, Jeff and Rick went to. It was really, really nice to actually generate forward momentum from a pedal stroke. I tuned the crank, and the bike went forward...... Sweet. We did almost 3 1/2 hours total, with a bunch of hard, 1 minute efforts in a big gear, well that's what I did anyway. Jody had the fixie and did the entire ride in a big gear.

We all took off together, chatting it up as we rode along the lake shore. It was cool to be out with friends, the shine of the sun on a pleasant Spring like day, and to know the Winter was nearly behind us. We praised ourselves for surviving it. There were lots of other cyclists sharing the same route as us. The 46 degree temps weren't warm, but they were entirely ride-able...... and enjoyable.

Moving forward, that's what I've been struggling to do for more than a year now. It's a task easily identified, and not easily carried out. But, like today, having the right environment helps. But mostly it's just way easier to move ahead when you have someone that shares in the task of shouldering life's burdens.

On this day it is indeed good to feel my body AND my life moving forward.

Do not resist the one who is evil...

2010-03-05T13:31:00.000-08:00

Me- "Are you sore?"

Niel- "No, not at all."

That was our conversation this morning regarding yesterday’s workout. It’s funny how when you first start on something new, it makes you feel the exact opposite from the results it is guaranteed to produce. Take the Swiss ball for instance. With consistent use it is intended to increase overall strength, balance, and flexibility; in turn this will hopefully increase confidence, stability and handling skills on my bike. I have to say, after yesterday’s strength training session with the Swiss Ball, I had my doubts that I would ever master the use of it.

After a light spin on the bike we got the balls out. I had an idea of the workout we were going to do so I was nervous because I haven’t done so much as a crunch since last spring. We were starting out with plank holds and then graduated to what I knew would be the hardest exercise for me, the push-up. I had difficulty wrapping my mind around doing push-ups on a squishy, unstable, round object. Consequently, I had a hard time doing them as well. My arms felt like toothpicks underneath me as I grabbed the ball. Much to my dismay, my butt popped out as I attempted to bend my elbows. Just as I tried to shift my feet and my weight to correct the obvious dorkiness I was suffering from, the ball slipped out from underneath me. I caught myself before I broke my front teeth out. I glanced up thinking I would be sure to find Niel in the same predicament I was in. I couldn’t have been more wrong. There he was hammering out push-ups on the ball like he was doing them off a wall standing up. Inspired and challenged I tried again only to find myself flat on the ground this time. To save myself injury, I swallowed my pride and conceded to girlie push ups on the ground. We did a few more exercises that I was able to do with a bit of concentration, but all in all, the Swiss Ball left me feeling insecure, off balance, and so weak I wouldn’t have been able to hang onto the handle bars if my life depended on it. As my arms dangled like lead pipes at my sides I considered the possibility that the manufacturers of the Swiss Ball were indeed evil, lying, little gnomes trying to thwart my attempts to be a more confident, stronger rider by keeping me so weak that I can’t even ride my bike. I left Cross Country Cycle never wanting to see a Swiss Ball again.

When I woke up this morning places on my body that I didn’t know existed were crying out in pain. I was tempted to just stay in bed and accept the physical and spiritual limitations of the person I find myself to be at 40 years old. The thing about life is this... it doesn’t allow that. It seems that life constantly demands that I set aside my pride and do those things that render me weak and sore if I ever hope to grow or change. I am starting to understand that although change is painful, resisting it is even more so.

An evil gnome is about to get richer.

1/2 a minute

2010-03-03T16:42:00.000-08:00

Thirty seconds, it's a measure of time. Sometimes 30 seconds is but a blink of an eye, like when Jody and I are talking about bikes, or chatting on the phone about something really funny, or riding our bikes on a Summer day at the Fort. Sometimes 30 seconds is an eternity. Like when you listen to a song you can't stand, or when you are talking to someone when you are running late, or being chased by a big dog down a country road, or the last 1/3 of a mile of the Fort Custer time trial.

Today we did 30 seconds sprint intervals in our workout. We did a dozen or so. For the first 10 seconds they are all the same, it's all about getting your body to that place you think it's supposed to be at. Where you are pumping your legs as hard and as fast as you can. The next 10 seconds feels awesome. You know you are pushing your body to it's limits, you feel like you imagine a professional feels. The last 10 seconds are HARD. You tell yourself there's only 10 seconds left, no problem. Then a few seconds later your legs go numb. Two things happen now: 1) You build strength 2) You build mental toughness. Of these two things, #2 is what separates the pack. #2 is also what I need to work on more than anything. Luckily my training partner has lots of it, and I think some of it's finally coming my direction....

Dirt Line

2010-03-02T17:48:00.000-08:00

As the sweat dripped from the end of our noses onto the trainer mats today, we watched the Tour. Don't ask me what year or what stage. I really don't find it that interesting. You must be saying to yourself, "How could someone who loves to ride her bike not find the Tour fascinating?" To which I would respond, "How can I pay the least bit of attention to hundreds of men in leotards who are too tall and too skinny to be on bikes anyway?" Many of them have over sized heads as well. And the polka dots? What is up with that?

Not that there's anything wrong with road riding. I do it myself when it is absolutely necessary. I don't hold anything against those who prefer it. I kind of view it as a different denomination of the same religion. It's just that a girl like me prefers to worship on dirt. Various kinds of dirt. Hard packed, loose, sandy, rocky, dirty dirt. I prefer it under my tires, on my skin, in my hair, in my nostrils, on the back of my throat, and yes... even in my eyes. When I am done riding I love to peel off my socks and look at the dirt line. The darker the line the better the ride. So this is what I contemplated as we watched the Tour. I could almost smell the dirt as memories of last summer danced through my imagination and I knew it had been far too long.

It is when I am the sweatiest, dirtiest me I can be that I feel the closest to God. I hope all this time on the trainer will help get there faster. I need to get back to that place.

2010-02-28T06:44:00.000-08:00

Yesterday Jody and I did some spinning at Cross Country Cycle with about 10 other people. I'm just starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel that is my cold. Did my best to sweat it out, and left lots of it on the floor (gross, I know). Then Jody and I drove a few miles West and parked at the beach. We watched the waves pile up more ice on the beach and talked about a trip to Asheville, NC with the CCC team. We also talked about the new bike we are in the process of gathering stuff for. It's gonna' be SO sweet! I really, really want to share all the details but I shouldn't. But I will say the wheels will be large and the gears will be few (very few)!

Rest day today. I'll have to keep tabs on Jody, else she will sneak out and be riding her bike when I'm not looking!

2010-02-27T07:31:00.000-08:00

No turning back now, I am posting our race schedule!! Jody might do a few more races after I go out West to work this Fall. 14 races in 5 months, I think that's enough!!!

date race affiliation priority
______ _____ _____________ ____________

3/27 Barry/Roubaix 35mi Kisscross #3

4/18 Yankee Springs TT MMBA #2

4/25 Pontiac Lake Rec. Area TT USAC #3

5/2 Fort Custer XC MMBA #3

5/15 Brighton Stage Race USAC #2
double points

6/6 Hanson Hills XC MMBA #3

6/13 Ruby Campground XC USAC #2

6/26 MI State Games at Cannonsburg
USAC Pro Race in WI #1 (Will do one of these 3 races that weekend)
6/27 Big M XC

7/3 Stony Creek Marathon USAC #1a

7/25 Stony Creek TT MMBA #4

8/8 Pontiac Lake Rec Area XC USAC #4

8/14 Ore 2 Shore Hard Rock #1

8/22 Fort Custer TT USAC #3

8/29 Stony Creek XC USAC #2

As Fast as Niel

2010-02-26T11:32:00.001-08:00

Four am comes awfully early especially when you haven't set an alarm. The coffee is brewing as I write and reflect on the week that has passed. Last Thursday morning at this time I was packed into a Sprinter Van with four other mountain bikers, headed toward 64 degrees and sunny, for some much needed time with the tread on the trail, rather than on the snow. I had grown so accustom to riding in the snow I seriously forgot what it felt like to be on hard packed dirt. It wasn't long though and I had acclimated to favorable conditions and had fallen in love with riding my bike all over again.

Honestly, this winter riding has just been something I have done to stay on this side of the delusional spectrum and it had lost it's luster. In this slump I had pretty much abandoned the idea of doing any races this summer. To tell the truth I had pretty much abandoned any dreams since I quit school. Yeah. Stress and cognitive skills became such a problem that I was having difficulty functioning normally, and I was experiencing a worsening of symptoms while acquiring new ones. It got to the point where I had to face the reality that I would not likely be able to perform the duties of a Physical Therapy Assistant from a wheel chair or a straight jacket, which ever came first. Something had to give. So I am happy to report that stress is reduced but at the same time an immense cloud of failure has loomed over my head ever since. I knew I needed something to look forward to but I couldn't wrap my mind around what, and whatever "it" would be, I couldn't imagine doing "it" alone. This is where God never ceases to amaze me by pointing out the obvious with gentle nudges.

On the ride home from Alabama Niel and I were talking as everyone else in the van snored away the miles. He said he thought we should both race for Cross Country Cycle. He said he thought I should race the Expert class. I wanted to ask him if he had been smoking crack. I mean his judgment must be off if he at all witnessed my riding ability the entire three days we were down south. Although I enjoyed just being on my bike, I felt weak and sloth like. I am in no way shpae or form ready to ride Expert. I thought about it for a few minutes as we drove back toward the tundra. What else was I going to do? The few races I had considered showing up at I wasn't going to ride for anyone. I planned on being a "one man wolf pack" riding in the single speed class, where I was comfortable and there was no real competition riding against the men. There was no pressure to win, because I knew I couldn't. There was no commitment to anything and I was free to do whatever I wanted with no accountability. The only problem with me and that kind of freedom is the happiness derived from it is elusive and the memories are "me" and "I" instead of "we" and "us" and when I really think about it, that kind of life is no life at all.

I don't think Niel knew really the depth of what he was asking me to do. Sure I am an over analyzer. I think way too much and my brain has a way of calculating negative outcomes in less than a millisecond, but for a moment, as we were closing the gap between the south and home, I could see...something beautiful. I saw a partnership heading in the same direction with a common goal. This is what I have always wanted. I never imagined it would come to me in this way, but it came never the less.

As we hammered out a tentative race schedule yesterday I got a little scared. Although inspiring, I was sure Niel was full flight from reality again when he showed me what we were going to do, and I would be doing it in the expert class?!?!?! It looked like an awful lot of work just to impress a boy, but it's too late now. I signed the contract. I bought the jersey. I am a little overwhelmed, but the good news is I am being nudged in the direction of what I really love to do, and I am already fast enough to actually ride with Niel. . . on the trainer. ;-)

A coupla' picts from Oak Mountain

2010-02-24T11:20:00.001-08:00

Jody in the Nome garden, she thought that one resembled me the closest

Me with my Nome bros and Jody stamping out the last few pedal strrokes up the 2 1/2 mile climb.

We're off and running (pedaling)

2010-02-23T13:11:00.000-08:00

Jody and I took over the training area at Cross Country Cycle today for indoor riding. We rode while we watched a cool training video with intervals of both power and lactate threshold varieties. We rode, we sweated, we tried really hard, but at the end of the ride our bikes hadn't moved an inch....... but our confidence had.

Coming up soon I'll share some picts of last week's trip to Oak Mountain State park in Alabama. (There's no place like nome, there's no place like nome)....