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Deigem Superprestige:Well I had my first experience in a Euro cyclocross race. It was pretty cool and another day at the office. I was pretty much at the back for the start. As expected and I think it's a good idea as that's pretty much where I finished. I had a decent start, but it wasn't like the USGPs and I didn't make up a lot of spots. I know I'm not aggressive enough and couldn't really squeeze myself in anywhere. And there was a decent sized crash at the first corner. I bypassed that, but was pretty scared. Everyone was trying to organize themselves still and I was pretty sure I had forgotten how to ride my bike and I really didn't want to crash. After about half a lap it settled down, but I still had a hard time for almost 2 laps trying to push really really hard. I think my technical skills were lacking a little bit. After 3 and 4 laps I really was able to step on it. I think I just got comfortable on my bike and with the course. I was pretty much sitting in the same spot chasing a small group and then one guy. I eventually caught him and then another guy passed me. And then with 3 laps to go, I could see Kyle about 200m in front of me at the pit. That gave me a ton of motivation and I just started givin' er 110. Not like I wasn't already, but... and I also knew Albert and Stybar were coming up behind me so I didn't want to get lapped. I felt good on pretty much the whole course. In the second half of the race though, my rear tire pressure was a little low and i couldn't take the paved corners 100%. I felt good through the fast-ish deep-ish mud, but as the race wore on it got really thick and sticky. I was weak on the long diesel sections, as can be expect because I am me. Some of the technical stuff was really cool. And don't worry Alberta, I haven't lost my barrier abilities, I think I even got some cheers a couple times... it was loud, but I have no idea what they were saying. I think it was cheering. And I think that's about all of the course, not much interesting once I was settled into my position, I was pretty much just riding by myself all the time.
And the amazing Jos drove me and Greg to the race in her wicked-awesome van. Cool! Lots of space to change and clean up and stuff. And she was great at the race, took our stuff, took care of us. And she knows Roger Hammond. How cool is that? Maybe I'm still a little kid...
There was a photo booth there that had an album up like 20 minutes after the race. I looked, and there was four of me, a couple were good, but i figured since it was only 7 euros, I thought why not. Maybe I'll send it home to make sure it doesn't get wrecked. I took a picture of it and put in here. It doesn't do it justice, but it's pretty cool.
I don't think I have anything else to say and this has been a decently long post, so I will let you go until tomorrow when I should have another race update. Til then, keep the rubber side down.
SA Christmas and EuropeThings here are getting better and more comfortable all the time. I feel more at home and happy to be here every day. I think next week I'll be good as new. I've had a few complications in my race planning, but I think things are coming through. I'm probably racing the Diegem Superprestige on the 31, the GP Sven Nys on the 1, the GP Sint-Niklaas on the 2, and the Antwerpen Scheldecross on the 10, and the 2 world cups. So I think that's pretty close to the actual plan. I met Jos today, our host, and she is very nice and is probably going to drive Greg and i to a couple races. I haven't really explored much. There doesn't seem to be a whole lot nearby, and I don't want to venture too far off and get lost.
That leads to me to a description on Belgium on my first 2 rides. I rode yesterday with Greg and Kyle and the roads here are nuts! There are so many of them and they are all tiny and none of them are straight. It's crazy! Everybody seems to be good drivers/cyclists and just know what's going on. If a whole bunch of North Americans cam over here at once they would all die. It just seems more intuitive. From what I've seen and heard (which isn't a whole lot) everything is way more relaxed and chill here. I don't think many people talk on their cell phones and drive or get up at 7 to put their make-up on. Maybe I just haven't seen that part, but I don't think it's here. The towns also seem to run right into each. If there were no town signs you wouldn't be able to differentiate them and even with signs it can be hard. But it's cool, not like American cities running into each other where there's massive malls and building complexes, everything here just seems like an organized mess and is really spread. Like somebody took a whole bunch of house and roads and threw them down like dice and just see where they land. It's cool. Here are some pics of my house and of what I've seen so far.
And I just wanted to say a few little things about Christmas! It was great this year! Every year my mom says I'm not getting anything, but every year my mom pulls through with some amazing gifts! Thanks mom and dad and Carrie and Mike and everyone else. I love you all. I got a burr grinder, a body fat scale, a sweet backpack, an amazing knife (which I didn't get a chance to use, and nobody is allowed to use until I get back!), a sweet pro chef book, a picture of Carrie and me on her wedding, among other cool things. And church on Christmas eve was great! Everyone was giving me last hugs and goodbyes and congratulations. I saw Ted for the first time in like a year and I can't say enough for everyone who had many many words of encouragement. Let me tell you, those came in handy once I got here. I also have some Christmas pics on here today. But I think I've said everything and this has become a pretty long post. The next one should be my first race update... can't wait!
SA Cyclocross Capital of the WorldWell, I made it here ok. I'm alive and well. The travel wasn't too interesting, just long. I killed my 5 hours in Calgary with a little time in Tim Horton's for the last time in a month and a little nap. It was good. Then the flight to Frankfurt was pretty good. Dinner was good, Pirates of the Carribean 2 was good, and I was about 4 hours in or so and I didn't think it was too bad, but then I realized it's only half over. But I survived. Frankfurt airport wasn't too bad but it looked pretty cool and I wish I had had the 5 hours there instead. When I went through the gate for the last leg there was a bus there. What the heck??? But I just got on and it drove for at least 5 minutes to our plane. Good thing I didn't have to walk. That flight was another really short one and it was really empty. I hardly realized I was in Europe though. The Brussels airport seems really small, but then you walk through many more sections. But just follow the signs and you find the train without too many problems. A ticket for the short ride to Leuven is only 3 euro... cool. My bags made it on alright too! At the train stations I found some phones without too much trouble and I wanted to call my mom and the house for a ride, but I couldn't figure them out and the only guy I could find that spoke english didn't know either. But I found a taxi and thought, why not... no problems, waiting. It was 40 euro, which I didn't think was too bad. The house is pretty nice and most of the people here seem cool. Right now I'm in a room with Kyle and Greg which I think I'm moving out of in a couple days. And I have no idea what I'm doing for racing, but I don't think I'm racing tomorrow because it's far, expensive, and already has a big startlist. I'm hoping to the Diegem SP but I think I may have needed to preregister a long time ago. We'll see. I think I should be able to just show up to the GP Sven Nys and the GP Sint-Niklaas. I just need to make sure I can get rides now.... And then Andrea is coming on the 9th, sweet! And I'll see if I can do the Antwerp race on the 10th and visit with her, but if not, Aaron comes and has a car on the 12th, for the 2 world cups and then it's the WORLDS BABY!!! Woohoo! It's pretty cool to be here. And I thank you all for all your support, letters, emails, hugs, and even just a simple hello. You are all great and I love you all. I'll let you know what kind of love once I finish CS Lewis's The Four Loves. But I think that's all for now. Greg and Kyle have been nice enough to let me use their computers so we'll see how often I can post and how many pics I can get up here... Til next time. SA ThanksJust as I'm about to head to off to Belgium to race some cyclo-cross and the World Championships, I'd like to take this opportunity to thank all those of people who have helped me along the way:
If I've forgotten you and you think you should be on this list, I love you and you are awesome, but I obviously am too busy trying to think about what I need to put in my bag; that being slightly more important than exactly what I put on my blog. SA He who can take no great interest in what is small will take false interest in what is great. -John Ruskin An interesting thought...If you knew for certain that you were going to lose your voice and that you would never be able to speak again, what would you want your final words to be? A man with throat cancer faced an operation that would save his life but not his voice. Just before surgery, he spent time with his wife telling her of his love. He did the same with his daughter. Then he asked his doctor to let him know precisely when the anesthetic would make him unconscious. As the man was slipping off to sleep, he said distinctly, “Jesus! Jesus!” That was the last word he chose to utter in this life—“Jesus!” The name of Jesus is precious to those who know Him and profane to those who spurn Him. New kicksHey y'all, I just thought you might want to know that I got some new kicks in the mail today! They are beautiful, light, and stiff!!! Thanks Shimano!!!
And I'm working on a video right now about my World's preparation here in E-town. I don't know if I talk too much, or if it's too much of the same, but I'm kind of liking it right now... here's where we're at now... http://video.google.ca/videoplay?docid=5364050185288541507
One more exam to go!!! Woohoo!
SA
Ladies and Gentlemen:Ryan "Treefarm" Trebon has finally done it!!! He has won the US National Cyclocross Championship. And my top 5 were even pretty darn close....
mine:
actual:
...pretty darn close, I think. It seemed like a pretty decent race, with Jonny Page coming over from Europe with an injury from the first world cup this year. And he managed to finish second!!! Congrats! And presenting, Shaun's funny moments from Starbuck's Westgate: Ashley: My pocket's vibrating... Shaun: Maybe you should get some new pants! SA Just WonderingSo Transcend Coffee put on a great show last night. Andrew Miller came home from Montreal and Mike had written lots of songs that most people hadn't heard yet. It was a nice promo for his cd, Just Wondering. Which is wonderful! If he lets me, I can sell it off here via paypal. Although I think most of you who read this don't know who Mike is (my brother in law) and how great his music, or if that's the kind of music you listen to. Anyway, it was a great night and it's a great cd.
And for all you video editors out there. I now know how you feel. I'm not even close to a perfectionist and editing movies (even mine that could be very much further tweaked...) is incredibly long-winded. For the most part it's pretty fun though. Just a question... what programs do you all use? I've tried a few, and the biggest/only complaint I have is that the music doesn't always line up the same, and if you watch it from the middle somewhere it lines up different than if you started from the beginning.... I wasn't sure if I was just expecting too much, or if I've only tried crappy programs!
SA VideosHey all,
Training is going well, I'm working hard and having fun. There is surprisingly a lot of motivation in me, considering the snow and the fact that I don't really have anybody to ride with. The studying isn't going so well--I'm just a really good procrastinator. And with all the videos going around, and Sarnecki's new page. I decided to work on a couple projects. Here is my first one:
I hope you like, feel free to post any comments. And since it's US Nationals coming up this weekend, I guess we should talk about our picks. Here are mine:
Let's hear your thoughts... Oh yeah, tbs's new series, My Boys, is really good. I didn't realize until somebody told me, but it's a lot like Sex and the City. But oh well, I like it! Check it out, tbs, Tuesdays at 8:00, I think. It's such a hit that they basically replay the episodes all week though... I'm off to two more exams and more video editing, since I don't really like studying. SA Hey CCAI can't pay you these ridiculous fees to send other people to World's until spring, when my money tree blooms.
Haha.
SA
ps. Check Sarnecki's sweet new site
especially his videos page... Anaerobic Alactic CapacitySo I was riding my bike today, doing my intervals (no big deal...), and on my third one, about 25 seconds in... BANG! OUCH! Hey, there comes the lactic acid, that is my Alactic Capacity... haha, the joys of being in phys ed.
SA
ps. just in case you're keeping track:
Winter WonderlandI booked my flight for Belgium last night. It's almost scary... I'm actually going now! Whoa!
Here is my tentative race calendar while I'm there:
so you can scroll past the big boys and for me on the results.
And the training has begun full-bore again... here are some pics of the recent winter wonderland: Enjoy! SA |
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