New Fit
So I went see Eric over at Austinbikes for a bike fit this week. Great experience, as usual everybody there is friendly and knowledgeable. I ended up much further forward than I had been (which I expected was going to occur). The fit finished up yesterday, and I decided what better way to try out than to go race a crit? Somewhat kidding.
Regardless, the crit went pretty well, I spent some time up near the front and that was exciting. So much better going through turns when you don’t have to slow down and worry about people going all crazypants on you. After chatting with Drew a bit after our strength workout on Wednesday (that I’m still sore from, thanks, Drew ;) ) I was looking for a few new things in an effort to try and move up and stay up. While I did get pushed back at some point, and then had to chase back on, I stayed in it and did move up a little towards the end. I had a bad side stitch, though, and that was making the stay put and rest vs. moving up battle a little bit harder. However, in the end I avoided the crash and finished up 18th.
At least I’m being consistent. I don’t plan on racing next week right before our trip as a safety precaution and because I’m sure we’ll be busy. But I have two more crits after I get back and I intend to go all out. After I get back I believe my training is going into official “base season.” The first race is at the end of January, so now is the time to start getting down good long, steady miles in preparation for the intensity that will start to come around the new year.
Also, I might try and do cyclocross. There is that entire issue of needing a bike, however. This is still being investigated.
I am going to hit ATC tomorrow with one of my teammates. Hopefully Jacob and I can hang in longer than I did last time (2nd climb on Southwest Parkway, eesh). It is really a ride of attrition. I hope to get a good spin of the Dam Loop in after the inevitable drop, so it should be a solid 3 hours of quality riding.
I also need to start looking for jobs when I get back from the trip. I am trying not to think about it too much… job hunting is just one giant ball of stress. However, I am hoping when I get back the weather will have really turned a corner and it will really feel like Fall.
The highs are going to be in the 40s in Norway. Yeah, that will be a shock.
Lucky
Last night at the driveway it was a small group for the cat 4/5 race. With all the rain we had received that afternoon, I wasn’t surprised by this. It wasn’t raining at the track, however, so I was expecting a good race.
After the first lap my brain was convinced that the track (even though there was standing water) was as grippy as ever. With the small group things stayed pretty calm. I just hung out at the back (not necessarily intentionally) and kept up with the pace with no problem. I felt really good. Even though I had to get out of the saddle every so often to keep attached after a turn or something, my heart rate was staying down in a very manageable level.
The lap cards came out, and I figured this was going to be a good finish. I saw the 3 to go card, and decided I would take the next 3 laps to try to move up and get towards the front. We go through the finish, go into the turn, and I see it plain as day in front of me. A guy dives into the corner, and then he loses his grip. He goes down, starts sliding. The guy next to him goes down, starts sliding. I’m headed right towards both of them. I hit my brakes… my rear wheel locks up. I release the brakes, catch my grip, and accept the fact that I am about to t-bone one of the guy’s hamstring. I get my feet out of the pedals, and I put my heels down, and slam right into the guys leg, bounce around, but I stay up.
I consider myself lucky. I have no idea how I didn’t end up on the ground. I go to click back in and realize that I have of course dropped my chain. My race is done.
All I got from the incident was a few cuts from my chain ring on my calf, so I definitely feel lucky. Lessons learned:
- STOP RIDING IN THE BACK, DUMMY!!
- repeat #1
- the pavement at the driveway is super sticky even when wet
- I am getting more confident in turning
- I still need to get better and more confident in turning
- I need to learn to not give up positioning to more aggressive riders so much
All in all, it was good to get out and race.
On the bathroom front, both bathrooms are now fixed and functional. We are currently letting the caulk and grout cure, but tomorrow we should be back in business. Taking a shower in my own bathroom, how novel.
Finally, on the photography front, I did complete JiBW2. While I have not posted the pictures to flickr yet, I did take them. I believe I did miss two days of the month. It definitely seemed harder this year. But it was interesting nonetheless.
Happy weekend!
Nerve
As I wait for the exercise clothes to finish washing, I decided to post on an interesting thought I had last night during the race. Well, it’s interesting to me. It was probably horrifying other people.
I don’t have my nerve in the race right now. There are several, probably pretty obvious, reasons for this. First off, I just have not been racing much. Being comfortable being in the pack and turning and all those things comes with practice.
Secondly, my fitness still isn’t there, so I’m not able to concentrate on the other aspects of the race other than, “oh jeez, stay on.”
But my hesitation was starting to annoy me. We’d start to go around a corner and I felt myself going for the brakes and getting really nervous. I used to love to corner at speed, and felt really comfortable. I know that as I do more races again, it will come back.
So I don’t have my nerve in the race right now. But I’ll get it back. Have to keep on riding, and keep on racing.
