Mountain Joy

Hesitation was the word preceeding the first attempt at mountain biking with three of the junior LionHearts. I have been working with them through the winter and talking about doing some mountain biking with them to give them some other experience and some better handling skills.

After a long winter of lots of snow and cold weather we finally got a streak of warm weather and decided to hit the trails. The four of us, myself and three of the LionHearts, hit up East Fork on a beautiful Friday morning.


 The initial trepidation soon turned into a calm interest, then to a bit of excitement, then into all out mountain joy. They had never been on a real mountain bike trail with logs and rock and long stretches of curves, downhills, uphills and fun jumps. After about 20 minutes they were all hooked, but each in their own way.

Zane was initially hesitant to mountain bike. When I talked to him mom about mountain biking she told me that he had said that mountain biking was no fun and there wasn't any reason to ride a mountain bike. Whether it was just because his mom was saying it or some pre-disposition against mountain biking, his tune had started to change. We got his mom's mountain bike set up to fit him and refreshed some of the components to make it more rideable and he gave it a shot.

Within minutes he was almost shrieking with excitement. The kind of excitement that almost makes a young boy drool, but definitely turns them into a non-stop commentary on how something is so cool and that he had no idea why he hadn't done this before and that he had never been on real mountain bike trails before now and it was AWESOME!

Spencer was excited, but in a much different way. He was talkative, which is more of a trait than an occassion, and was sure to let everyone know it was cool. However, his excitement was more of a realization that his years spent on a motocross bike were not left to waste. He had now combined his two favorite sports from the past few years, cyclocross biking and motocross, into a single sport. He got to be the motor in addition to dodging obstacles and ramping himself wildly over log ramps that I know Butch had fun putting together.

Mackenzie was a different sort of excited, an excited that a girl shows and boys (and dad's) have a hard time understanding. She found it a lot more interesting than road riding, but mentally was struggling with obstacle clearance. She hadn't seen these things on a bike before. How was she supposed to riding over roots, stones, and rough terrain, especially downhill, when no one gave her the book to read before hand and understand everything about it. The excitement was certainly there, but more muted as she was waiting for a completed operator's manual before letting it all loose.

We had about a 2 hour ride on the trails at East Fork and every one got muddy. The trails were really in great condition except for a few minor spots where water had pooled up and a few small "puddles" throughout the trail system.

Tonight we headed out again, this time to Landen-Deerfield. The trail system was more torn up and you could tell that riders hadn't respected the trail through the winter and wet months. We rode out to a section that was solid along the creek and found a section we could do over and over, including the creek crossings that were still very much in tact.

Now there was some fun to be had. At East Fork we hadn't gotten into any real good creek crossing, but Deerfield showed us something with both creek section we did showing some good water volume. The kids all shrieked.

Kids: "Do we ride over that?"
Me: "Well, yeah, of course, why not?"
Kids: "Huh? Really?"

So we traversed the creeks, some of us falling in the water and soaking ourselves thoroughly. Much laughter and fun was had by everyone. Towards the end of the ride we were trying to get in a few more laps of our safe course we had found including both creek crossings and within about a 10 minute span we had 3 flats on three different bikes. They were all from hitting the trails with speed and trying new things, to which Zane exclaimed:

"You can tell we had a really good ride because we got flat tires! That is the sign of a great ride!"

New Level of Pain

For the last six weeks we have been working with ten kids and their cycling skills. You may be asking exactly how that can be done given that Cincinnati has had way too much snow and weather cold enough that even the heartiest of riders were deciding it was better to ride indoors.

When we first met six weeks ago we introduced the kids to indoor trainers, the evil side of road cycling in the winter. By February every Cat 3 racer I know loathes the trainer and many just go outside and ride in 22 degree weather because they can't take it any more. The pain of potential frostbite becomes far more entertaining than the pain of sitting on the trainer for another two hours in the basement.

To counteract this we also introduced them to their goal - the Team Dayton Indoor Time Trial. This time trial is a standard length of 6.2 miles and is known round the world for indoor competition. The kids experienced the Computrainer time trial in the comfort of a small group over six weeks ago and then we starting a very basic training program.

Just give me three days a week. We asked them to do a very simple task - workout three days a week. Doesn't have to be cycling, just be active. Run. Jump. Do situps. Ride. Swim. Whatever. The parents were given the guidelines of "what counts" and away we went. The kids took to it. Some of the kids even got frustrated when they were too busy with school to get their workouts in - just like I am when I am too busy with work or home to get my work out in.

We met once a week in a structured workout to make it four total times a week of 30 minutes or more. We would meet for about an hour and a half and ride our bikes indoor for 45 minutes to an hour and then do some core routines for another 20 minutes or so. Sometimes we would throw in games with the Wii or other activities to keep things different, but the kids had a great time.

Today was the day we learned who had improved the most. In the spirit of local bicycle racing, we had two pairs of socks riding on the outcome. Of the ten kids, seven had done a pre-test on the Computrainer to set their baseline. Three girls were competing for a pair of knee high socks that are all the rage in cyclocross, and the boys were competing for a pair of wool Sasquatch socks. The boy and girl showing the most improvement percentage wise would win the prize.

These kids can compete. From the gun the kids were off. You could see it on their faces that they meant business and this was way more than just a six mile ride on their bikes. Whether it was the socks or just for pride they all worked their tail off. Two of them worked to the point of losing their lunch, to which we are grateful for the clean up crew.

More than anything they were each finding a new level of pain they could endure. The average improvement for the kids was 12% - that is substantial. While I would love to take credit for designing a program that promises 12% percent improvement, I know competition had more to do with it. Most times these kids never see the other racers. They are often alone working by themselves. With the time trial they all knew where everyone was - and they knew exactly what to do to catch them - go faster.

They went faster. Most went faster than I or their parents had ever seen. My own daughter told me she went faster than she had ever gone before. While she may not realize it, she also found a new level of pain she could endure. Bicycle racing is a lot about enduring pain. Not letting the pain stop you from pressing forward harder and harder. We all know that the pain we feel isn't our muscles ripping from the bone. We can all press forward if we have the mental capacity to push through it.

The kids found a new hurt locker today.

The boy that showed the most improvement lowered his time by over 20% today. He earned every bit of it. His parents were proud, but were trying to get him to zip up his jersey as he stood outside on a 35 degree day trying to cool off after his effort. This guy loves his bike. At the age of 10 he was out riding his bike this week in 25-35 degree weather. Working hard, trying to get faster on his bike to race.

The girl that showed the most improvement lower her time almost 10%. This included fighting a high ankle sprain for the last two weeks as well as trying to work through knee soreness experienced after growing like a weed over the last 6-8 months. She wasn't sitting out.

Another boy took his time to 21:51 over 6.2 miles. That is over 17mph on a rolling course for an eleven year old. A 12 year old girl averaged close to 16 mph and showed 8% improvement. The list goes on....

But none of this touched my heart as much as my own 9 year old. She woke up Sunday morning and was worried. Not worried about the time trial, but worried that we wouldn't let her do the time trial. She was running a very low fever and didn't really feel well, but there would be no talking her out of going. She showed marginal improvement, but the attitude was way more important. Some days you look at your kids and think maybe they finally understand what you have been saying to them.

It is only February and I am already anxious to get to Cyclocross season where these kids excel.

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.