Tailwind USAC XC Series Close - Stony Creek XC

Another USAC XC series in the Books, and that can only mean 1 thing. You guessed it! Cyclocross time. As soon as I got home, I washed down the Superfly and put her in the basement until the ICEMAN rolls around. But not so fast. So I had to deal with Stony today. More of the same from the last 3 races. Just can't get the high end going that I need for these races. Granted I am feeling real strong and rested which is good, but it is still hard to line up at a race and not want be 100%! So I survived today. First 2 laps felt kind of sluggish especially on the climbs. Then on the 3rd lap my bike handling skills finally came back and I started to reel back some of the guys that passed me. The forth lap was more of the same. Felt good and strong and then the tops of my quads started to cramp. It was tough on the climbs but the rest of the course I was OK. It came down to a sprint for 7th and 8th. Not sure of the guy's name who was with me, but I was 2nd wheel and ready to pounce. I tired to take the inside on the Right at the last turn, but he cut me off. So Then I attacked on the left, and pulled up along side him, then he squeezed me out the the orange barriers! What the hell! This caused me to miss a few more crucial pedal strokes and lost the sprint by about 4 inches and some .000-something seconds.

HUGE CONGRATS TO SHAWN - What a F-in year! 3rd today and it was good enough to take home 2nd in the series in his first year at the Expert level!

Adam -- WOW! First overall in the series in only his 2nd year at the Expert Level!

Mark Z. -- My team mate. Taking top 3 honors in your first full year of racing is awesome. I am sure it makes you hungry for more! and keep your sites on a 2:15 at Iceman.

Overall I am pleased with my mountain bike results for the year. but now it is time to get focused. At the end of the year I will reflect a little more... but it's go time now.

HUP!
HUP!
HUP!

Fort Custer TT

Not much excitement to report about so I will keep it short. All though this is one of my favorite trails and places to race. It was really nothing more than a way for me to have fun, get in a mini vacation with my family, and test myself on the high end stuff and bike handling before my all out CX training begins. Overall I guess I am happy for not doing any formal training since Ruby. I felt strong on my geared bike and in the single speed race. I did not cramp, and I was not sore the next day. My bike handling sucked in my first race of the day on the geared bike. I think it was a combination of not riding much single track this year other than race day, and not riding in sand a lot when I do ride single track. Pulled it Together a little on the single speed. For my efforts, I got 6th in Expert men 30-39. and snuck in a 7th in the Expert/Elite Single speed class. OK, enough of this mountain bike stuff already..... lets get it on for Cylcocross!!!!

Great job to Mark Z. my teammate for a solid 3rd on a course he had never ridden before.

And great job Shawn again for another podium and strong effort. What a season your having!

I'm Glad That's Over...

What a beautiful day for racing! And one of my favorite places to race, Pontiac Lake.... Well it wasn't my best day in the saddle, but I still had fun. 3 laps at Pontiac in August ain't no joke. This place is brutal this time of year. The rocks and roots were really exposed, the down hills were loose and washed out! Wow, what a great course. Overall I finished 9th. Not bad considering I really have not been training other than running and starting to get back some base with some dirt road rides. The high lights of the day were, I didn't cramp. And I was putting up some respectable lap times. Well at least 2 laps. It is really hard going into a race knowing that your best is not really going be your best. But I got to stay focused. These next few races are not important for me. They are just training days to keep my fitness going. My real training plan will pick back up in September. But for today, "I'm glad that's over..."