MEDIOCRE AT BEST

William and I once again this weekend car pooled out for another cross weekend. This week it was to Newton, IA for the Iowa state c/x championships. A good 4's field showed up approx 36 on the line. I got my usual good start and stayed high in the top 10 for the first few laps. But as the race went on I found myself getting passed by at least one rider per lap and the engine room had little or no power to follow. I did my best to limit the damage and rode the last several laps as smooth as possible. Crossed the line in 11th place, a tad disappointed but still having a consistent season. I'm feeling a bit burnt out from 3 weekends in a row of racing, so next weekend is off. I'm going to try to get some quality recovery both physical and mental. Also try to pack in some good training to get the motivation up a tad higher than it is before the final push to Jingle cross then NATIONALS!
By the way William won the cat 4 State title. That's two wins in
a row good for 20 points! Can you say 3? Ty

MOTIVATION TO TRAIN TOUGH TO FIND AFTER DOUBLE RACE WEEKEND

Even after some good results over the weekend, motivation to go out and get some strong training rides in, has been tough to find. Monday my legs were in shambles, but I did force myself to put in a recovery ride. Yesterdays work schedule forced a much needed day off the bike. Today (Wed) I was still lethargic in the morning so another light tempo ride was done. The only good news was that close to the end of the easy ride, the legs started to feel a little less heavy. I hope to get my only hard ride of the week in tomorrow. My question is this enough to further my fitness for the big races to come in November? This is the most racing i've ever done in one season, and the cross season is compact at that. The competition is growing stronger as the year races on. After 6 years of pushing pedals with no success, my desire to stay at the sharp end of the pack is strong. I just don't want to overcook it and sabotage what has so far been my greatest season ever! Ty

REDEMPTION IN WISCONSIN AND FIRST PAYDAY OF THE YEAR IN IOWA

First payday of the year!

Coming up the run up at Psyclofest.

The start of the cat 4 race at Psyclofest. Can you spot the sandbaggers?

Izzy clearing the barriers

Cross racer in the making.

Saturday drove up to Whitewater,WI for the trash dash. Car pooled up with William, and on the way picked up his brother-in-law Stephen. After last weekend, my confidence was in a bad way and I was looking to bounce back. My plan was to blast off the start line go all out until I popped and then survive to the finish. That's how it played out, and it was good enough for 8th place. William rolled the single speed once again and finished 4th. Stephen also had a good redemption ride and bettered his performance from last week and came in 16th. I gotta say that after last week, a top 10 finish against a tough Wisconsin field was the shot in the arm I needed. Sorry no photos, batteries died.

Sunday was Psyclofest in Bettendorf, IA. The temps in the high 70's and the course was screaming fast! My strategy worked ok yesterday, so no changes needed. I think I got the concept of the cross start figured out, because I had another great one. led the field for almost the first full lap. The runup was a killer!!! I lost a ton of time and places here. I would catch up on several of the power sections only to get dropped again on the run up. My chain popped off with 2 to go, and I lost a place while getting it back on and that's where I finished 6th place and the last paid spot. William won the race once again on the s/s. He's got it working and and upgrade is coming soon. My teammate Chad also got a top 5 and is looking strong for the state race next week. Time to recover. Ty

Finally My Ego Goes "POP"

tough to pass, tons of single file racing

Shows how narrow a bunch of the course was

William rollin on the singlespeed!!!

Today was Cam-Rock C/X in Rockdale,WI and the comp was solid. Approx 50 of us lined up for the cat4 race. I wish I had some kind of excuse, like I blew a tire or something, but nope I just got flogged. The course had some technical stuff, and once you got behind there was few and far between places that you could pass. Once again my cornering and bike handling skills of old showed up and I bounced around in traffic all race long. Ended up a sad 22nd picking up pieces of my ego all the way back to Illinois. Huntsberger made his first showing of the cross year and went single speed and finished 12th. We're both planning on a quick road trip next Sat to Whitewater, WI and then Bettendorf on Sun. Hoping for a rebound, and get back into that top 10 groove. By the way, I want to wish happy birthday to both my dad and my awesome wife. Dad, it was great to see you while you were home, and Kris me and the boys miss you a bunch!!! Have a great B-day and we'll see you again as soon as we can. Kris my wife who on her birthday went 8hours round trip to a bike race for me. If that is not love, I don't know what is. You are truly amazing!!! Ty

Photos of Newton C/X Weekend

Proud Dad!!!!

Looking for a handup

Re-run on the run up!

Le Mans style start up the run up.(me in second)

Izzy and team mascot Belle

Our team Director and love of my life!!!!!!

RACE-- RECOVER-- REPEAT

Last weekend was a much needed break from travel and racing. My body and motivation took a major slide after Newton. After several days off the bike and then a group ride with the Saturday morning regulars at Greg's house, i'm feeling a little more back to normal. Today a hard workout on the cross bike and the legs responded.
I don't think i'm going to spooky cross now. I saw the flyer and there 4's race is a 3/4 race. No good for trying to get points for upgrade. I'll wait to get thrashed by the likes of Thad, Dennis, Bruce, and all the other 3's at Jingle Cross. So instead we are going North to Madison,WI for Cam-rock park on Sat. We'll see if I can be like the Chicago Bears last week and put the hurt on some cheese heads........ Ty

Newton C/X 2 Races Same Result

Took the camper and the family to Newton to race both Sat and Sunday's Cross mafia events. I gotta tell ya that sleeping in Sat morning relaxing all day (no yard work) and racing in the evening was great. The legs felt good and I was motivated to race. Had a great start, but just like last week, let several people pass and the settled into the 5/6 spot and that's where I stayed all race. Finished 6th and was happy with it. Tommy also raced the Jr.s and won!!!! He was the only one signed up, but you race who shows up, and he did. A real proud dad.
Day two, and my legs were the exact opposite of Sat. Understandable after yesterdays thrashing, but I had no expectations in this race. The goal was just to survive. And I barely did that. I hit the deck 4 times!!!! 3 times in the same corner just after the start line. I am so sorry to everyone that I either cut off or offended by my screaming foul language. After the 4th crash my seat came loose and I rode the last 2 laps in fear of it breaking off all together. It held together, but because of the distraction it was making, and being so frustrated at having to pick myself off the ground over and over again, I let 5th place ride by me then away from me and I again got 6th place. Not as happy as the day before, but content.
So 3 races and 3 top tens to start the season and i'm extremely motivated for October. After a couple days rest, we'll be back at it getting ready for spooky cross. Pictures to come. Ty