Walmart of Bikes

The scene is Christmas morning at the Green household and my three girls are tearing wildly into their stocking while I watch and hold my own stocking in my hands. As they finish I am given the cue to reach into mine and I find one of the best gifts I will get this year - a brand new bottom bracket tool from Park Tool. How could this simple present from my lovely wife spark a Christmas morning rant? I will explain.

After the kids were done and the presents were all opened, my wife explained to me that she now understood why I never spoke to a person at some bike shops. Being a loving wife she wished to purchase this Park Tool for me based on the list of things I "needed" that I had scribed for her early in the month. As is my usual routine I listed brand, part number, places to buy and what I thought the cost should be. Since no one really understands my obsession this poses the best opportunity for me to get a bike related gift, and I am sure most bike nerds reading this can relate.

As it turns out my wife was at the mall in Kenwood - we do have three girls, so mall trips are a very important piece of her life. She knew that Performance Bike was right down the street and maybe, just maybe, she could get another errand scratched off her list. She fought the traffic on Montgomery Road during the Christmas season and headed into their retail outlet, list in hand with brands and part numbers.

She had no idea what "Park Tool BBT-9 Bottom Bracket Tool" meant on the list that I supplied, so she asked a helper on the floor if they could show her where she might find this item. The salesman showed her to the tool section and explained that they didn't carry that model, but that another one would work.

Not being a bike nerd my wife thanked the salesman and explained that she wasn't going off the list that was provided, she knew I was somewhat particular and while the other item suggested may do the trick, she had no way of confirming that with me without consultation. The salesman kicked it into gear.

"I am sure this one will do the trick and your husband probably doesn't understand what he wants." That may not be an exact quote, it was a few weeks ago, but it is the general idea. The salesman was throwing away any opportunity to attract repeat business or build any sort of relationship over a simple tool - a tool that at high MSRP is $24.99, and in the Performance online catalog is $19.99.

My wife was mad. Not only did she feel insulted, but felt the salesman was insulting to me as well. I may not know everything about cycling and bike repair, but I have been riding and working on bikes since I was 5 years old. For those unaware, that gives me 35 years of experience. She told me very bluntly that she really didn't plan to return to that store and couldn't understand their attitude.

She is a non-cyclist and has these feelings.

This is where bike retail has migrated. The smaller, knowledgeable shops struggle, the behemoth's prosper with their own brands that they make an extra $0.67 on versus a name brand. A few miles from Performance was Jim's Bike Shop, a fully knowledgeable shop that would have provided a better experience.

On this day Performance earned their reputation as the Walmart of bikes - or at least the high pressure used car salesmen of bikes.

Nationals Racing - Masters 40-44 - Holy Mackerel

Freakin Fast - Sasquatch Messes Back

Having started cyclocross racing just two season previous I already knew I wasn't the fastest guy in the staging area, but I didn't know the half of it.

To set the stage my racing experience before last year was mostly road related racing. Lots of road races, time trials, some criteriums, essentially anything with skinny tires and lots of power. The word 'finesse' didn't exist in my cycling vocabulary. I owned a mountain bike, but it was from the late 80's and weighed more than my current collection of road bikes combined.

Anyone I have raced against knows I am more of grass crit races. My best races this year were COlumbus - fast, hard, dry - and Brookside - hard, dry, fast - and Louisville finale - cold, dry, fast, hard. All three of these had long straights with power sections. It didn't take a PHD in course conditions to draw a conclusion on my technical skills.

Fast forward to Oregon. I took a video of the pre-race and then again during the race and you can probably see that the availability of nice, long, grass highways was nearly non-existent. They were replaced with icy corners, wet, rocky s-turns, bumpy ground, and a descent that was making some guys wet their pants during pre-ride. I was not in my element. I probably would have been more comfortable doing a race on the moon, at least there my fat arse wouldn't take me down.

I got ready for the race, lowered my tire pressure to as low as I thought I could handle and set my goals for the race. My goals were very modest:
1) Don't break anything on my body
2) Ride the hill at least once
3) Ride as far as I could without getting lapped
4) Have fun

Goal #1 nearly got destroyed within 10 seconds of turning a crank. I was going to try Joe's theory, but didn't have the eye of the tiger today - which may have actually saved a bone in my body. 192 riders starting at the same time is quite an event. I had just gotten started when I smelled burning brake pads on carbon rims - a scent that doesn't bring happy thoughts. I saw the wreck and slammed my brakes on just in time. Word is paramedics were called and at least one rider never made it to the official start line.

Once that cleared I got down to business. The first lap was an expedition. I rode the course previously, but at 7:30am, with a fresh layer of snow on the ground. Now, in race conditions, the course was way different. The snow had melted in most places and everywhere was wet. You couldn't tell what was icy and what was water. Every corner was an experiment, especially for a guy without good technical skills.

I finished the first lap and tried to make the 2nd one better, which was successful. I didn't have to run/walk as much and rode the freakin runup - felt like a stud, stuck out my tonque and then rode down the descent like I was on a big wheel. So much for being a stud. Overall the second lap was pretty clean. I was slow in the corners, but had some power. I hadn't gotten lapped yet and based on the announcer I was still in pretty good shape to keep going.

I put in the 3rd lap, but got a bit slower than the 2nd lap. I was starting to catch and pass some folks, but when you slow down to grab a dollar from Sasquatch you have to readdress your priorities. I tried to grab a dollar the previous lap, but it was a trick and Sasquatch was messin' back as he had a death on the buck. This time through I grabbed the dollar and shoved it in my back pocket. Need to frame that sucker.

I almost rode up the hill the 3rd lap, but was in a poor gear. Got bogged down right at the top. I again rode the hill like a toddler on a big wheel and kept going. I could sense the leaders breathing down my neck. I made one last effort to stay in front of them and made it through the finish line without being lapped, maybe I can get a 4th lap in.

I got about 1/3 of the way through the course and this guy starts yelling "coming through". At first I thought to hell with him, but then I realized it was a leader of the race. Can't hold him back, that wouldn't be fair. The last thing I needed was for someone to be injured by a lard butt from Ohio and take them out of the race. I got over, let them through. Unfortunately there were several officials throughout the course and they started pulling anyone that was lapped.

So I got about 3.5 laps before being lapped and pulled. At first I thought I would be mad if I got pulled, but then I started to realize the quality of rider passing me. I was in a race with guys that weren't just national champions, but world champions. John Tomac was in my age group and in this race - and he lapped me. I was in way over my head.

So, I took my time and let a lot of folks pass getting off the course. They froze results in the order in which you were on the lap you got lapped, so it didn't matter if I kept riding. I stopped to take it all in - this was awesome. The crowd, the scene, the course, the level of competition, everything about it was amazing.

I have a new goal for next year - 4 laps.

Awesome Kids

The kids were awesome today. Their race was at 8am and it was cold. We started our warm up at 7am after getting there at 6:30 to set things up. All of them finished, all of them were awesome.

The girls 13-14 race was like looking at women vs. children. 6 or so of the girls were noticeably larger - one in particular was probably nearly a foot taller than Kenzie. They were immediately intimidated, and got off to slow starts.

The course was extremely slippery. The girls were falling all over the place, but they perservered and hung in there with girls much past them in physical maturity. I was extremely proud of Kenzie and once again emotional.

In the end Kenzie was happy with 10th, though she thought she could have done better. The best part was the comment she made after finishing her race. She was crying at the end, couldn't feel her hands, had blood coming from her knee, and was attempting to tear off her shoes to try to get them warm again. "Dad, we are coming back."

It wasn't a question, it was a statement.

Nationals Day 1 Report

Today was supposed to be my first race. I wanted to race the B race, get an understanding of how the course rode and pass that along to Mackenzie, who would ride the next morning. This never came to be. The Red Zone van pulled into town with our shoes, helmets, wheels, and Mackenzie's bike around 6:30pm this evening, well after racing was finished.

Every thing turned out OK though. We got to spend a lot more time watching the riders on the course today than we would have otherwise. We watched every angle a lot of places and watched where they had success and where they failed. We watched some riders go up the big hill riding, we watched others run, and we watch do both in an unplanned way. We walked on the course and found big rocks and edges of ice and little off-cambers - most of which you wouldn't have really noticed riding the course.

I think this was valuable to the kids. We could discuss it in place and not while trying to ride around the course. Instruction came as we went and not quickly as we tried to ride. We still wish they had their bikes to try to ride a bit, but it wasn't awful to walk around.

One of the more interesting things we learned today was the snow was a 'dry' snow. I don't know how this happens, but the snow was dusty enough due to the cold temps and the dry air that instead of just melting it seemed to disappear. There were several sections of the course that we snow covered when we got there in the morning, but at 4pm were clear. No mud, no wet, no ick, just clear.

For being snow covered the course was very fast. It was a grippy snow and very unlike what we have in the Midwest. This again points to the dryness. In the Midwest the air is so damp that any melting becomes wet ick. The kids are going to race and the ground should be solid and mostly grippy.

I think the kids are prepared. Doug and I were up late (and it is 2am EST right now) working on bikes and getting them ready. He will be in the pits tomorrow while I am out on the course watching the kids. We will be conferenced in with each other most of the race communicating and making sure everyone is doing well.

The best part is that I am excited. More excited than when I race myself. Excited for my daughter and her progression this year and her ability to get done what 4 months ago was impossible. Excited that she has been able to see what hard work can do for her, not just in sports, but in her life. Excited that she will be competing and I get to support her.

Simply excited that I am here with her.

Best Laid Plans

On Sunday I had this great idea. The Red Zone folks could get most of the bikes out to Oregon in there trailer - and had room for a lot of wheels and duffle bags, but not my 'bike'. So, I sent my wheels on Kenzie's bike, but my helmet and shoes in a duffle, and then I would only have to ship my frame. I could then use the extra room in the bike case for all my other cycling clothes and related items.

I got my bike all packed up and ready and shipped it on Monday. Immediately it had an 'exception' - turns out the storm that just hit the Midwest put down the same blizzard out west and the exception was a potential weather delay. Immediately my brain raced through all the potential options - from borrowing someone's bike to buying one and reselling immediately on ebay.

Fast forward to today and as I was sitting in the Seattle airport I got an email saying my 'frame' was delivered. The relief spread through my entire body.

After a 35 minute flight over the mountains to Portland we met up with Doug Dobrozsi. All our flights went to schedule and everyone met up to caravan to Bend. Then Doug gave the Red Zone report.

At last contact the Red Zone van and trailer was sitting on the highway somewhere in Wyoming. The recent blizzard had closed the highway with three foot drifts. They were still 800 miles away with 36 hours left to the Juniors race time - less than 24 to my first race.

Now I have an opposite issue. May have to find shoes, wheels and a helmet to race tomorrow - oh, and some tools to put my bike back together.

The big concern is the Juniors. The Red Zone van went 200 miles in the previous 6 hours. At that pace they need another 24 hours to get here.

Hoping for a just in time arrival.

Tension in the Body

As I sit on the plane en route to the largest bike race of the 100's I
have done over the years, the mind is racing.

I was awaken this morning at 4:20 by the strong wind and heavy rain
beating on my window. The mind immediately thought about my flight - I
had no reason to worry yet, but with my bike potentially having issues
getting out there, the blizzard like conditions last weekend out west,
and the normal sensitivity to schedule issues I couldn't get back to
sleep. I did the math in my head and realized that I was up at 1:20 am
PST and likely wouldn't get to the hotel, check in, get dinner and get
settled until close to 9:00 pm PST. This isn't ideal conditions for
rest the day before the biggest race I have ever raced.

Mackenzie seems much more rested and relaxed than me - either due to
relative ignorance of her surroundings, or she could just be enjoying
and soaking it all in like we talked.

Either way, the excitement is building and the days will fly. Pictures
and stories to follow soon.

Last Minute Wacko

It is the last minute. I haven't packed. I leave tomorrow morning. Mackenzie is packed, I haven't started. Foot of snow, cold temperatures, mountains, and I don't know where any of my warm socks are.

OVCX Last Race Recap

On the drive home I realized something somewhat profound about the experience of the last four months. The focus for the last four months was Mackenzie and getting her to realize how to compete, have fun, and work hard. Build skills in something she would enjoy athletically and take it one day at a time.

The learning was that while she may have come to understand these things, I probably learned more in the last four months than she did - and without really understanding it. All this time spent working with her had developed something in me that I didn't have a great grasp on previously - a better ability to be patient with the kids and a better ability to put their interests before my own.

Mackenzie was ecstatic today after her race, but in a different way than I expected. She couldn't believe she had won - kept asking if it was for real. She knew she had won when she came across the line, but was confused because she didn't expect it. The strongest girl in the field who had been winning all year (and Mackenzie's very good friend) had a bad day. She fell twice, dropped her chain twice and struggled. At some point Mackenzie will learn the opposite end of "racing", but today she learned the up side to racing. You never know...


And now we are off to Nationals. Ship my bike tomorrow via 2nd day air (that's gonna cost some $$$) and fly out on Wednesday. Bend is expecting 5 inches of snow and cold temps. Will definitely lead to a challenge. Mackenzie is overjoyed to be going and can't wait. She had no expectations of a placing, just wants to go, experience it, and ride.

I also can't wait, but not because of my racing. I am excited to spend five straight days (and 7 out of 9 including this weekend) with Mackenzie. It is a bonding that will be remembered for a life time. Mackenzie may not remember the lessons that I learned from her, but we will both remember the time spent.

Season's End

OVCX wraps up this weekend, and with Nationals next week, the end is in sight for 2009 cyclocross. I seem to be having the same withdrawal symptoms as last year, as well as the same bitter sweet feelings. While I do enjoy cyclocross and would love for more to the season, my body is telling me it is time to stop.

Before cyclocross for me there was dead air between about September and March, there are no real road races in that time frame. Cyclocross has filled a gap and keeps the brain moving forward through the end of the year, delivering me almost to January without the unpleasant lack of motivation that used to be experienced in that same time frame. By January one can see the horizon of road racing coming in March and realize that those races are won in January, before the holidays plant themselves firmly around one's mid-section.

This year the bitter extends itself further into my inner psyche. The last cross races means the end of the weekly planned time with Mackenzie and to a lesser degree Madeleine. In the beginning of the season it was weird to rotate my schedule to a different tune and get my own training in, but the last half of the season I really started to enjoy it. I already miss the days at Kingswood where it would be dark, but both the girls would come to me and say they wanted to keep riding despite not being able to see.

My hope for the winter/spring is no longer that I stay in shape enough to do spring races, but instead that my daughter(s) continues the interest in the sport. Sure, it it is very convenient that I like the same sport, but her ability is way better than mine. Her technical handling is already better than mine and with some power development she would be hard to handle.

Even if she shows no more interest in the sport after this season, I will always remember the fall of 2009. The trip to Louisville, the many, many nights spent at Kingswood, the driving to and fro the different venues, and after next week, Nationals and Bend, Oregon. The early forced conversations about technique and equipment that turned later to questions from her on how to get better.

Wishing next season started tomorrow.