The eleventh hour

     Photo:  Seton Hill Unv. /Greensburg, PA


Over this past year I reflected on the "Magic" of Cycling.  It's nice when that (Velo) Magic finds you.
Back in October while at a CX race, I was told that there would be a CX race at Seton Hill later this season.  To be honest I felt a little befuddled.  I thought, wait a minute, that's my race.  Going back to the early 2000's I took up the cause of grassroots cyclocross promotion and through the sponsorship of Seton Hill, and Speedgoat Bikes became the Promoter of Speedgoat-Crossing.  These were the first cyclocross races ever held in Westmoreland Co.  For 3-years Seton Hill picked the same date to have the race, Thanksgiving weekend.  Setting up the course was always treacherous.  Each year the weather pattern seemed to break from mild temperatures to cold, windy rain mixed with snow.

Here the same, 15+ years later we got cold blowing snow for the re-established Griffin Cross, at Seton Hill, presented by a new shop in town, Flat Tire Co.  Like they say, "Some things never change".  Once again, Seton Hill provided the opportunity to race going into Thanksgiving. 

to be continued ~vm

October

October

Transitioning from build-up to here letting it all out

Influx of sensation’s

Memories’ of the way things use to be

            Anticipation of Friday night drives out East

                        local High School Football games fade in and out of broadcast range

                        routine stops at Sideling Hill

                                    grab a coffee, something to snack, look at the souvenirs                                                          knickknack’s that I never buy 

            Blast the PA Turn Pike Commotion and the ever-ascending Toll Fees

                        Construction, single lane traffic, road closures, erratic drivers, big trucks

 

            Pain in the neck, pain in my shoulder, cramping, anxiously watching the clock

                        I really got to pee again, Nature Break at the side of the road

Reformation of the Standards

            Grass roots, volume, quality and quantity, those who can will

                        a local hot bed of competition with Regional and National accolades

           

Keep it simple

 not stupid

Though I revere the old ways

            New vehicles of change, refresh and endure.

2016 CX Season Opener

A lot has happened over the off-season.  Although I have mentally committed to making Cyclocross my primary sport and the focus of all my training efforts for the past few years.  This year I have fully committed to allowing myself to forgo the early Spring Road and Crit races.  In mid-summer I started my Transition to [CX] Base and did a block of LSD rides in August by targeting local Ridge Climbs.

Off-Season Overview:
Jan.  Hiking Trails                        Apr.  (some) Road        Jul.  Road/speed
Feb.  Hikes/some Trl. Running    May  LSD Road            Jul.  Run/Road/speed
Mar.  6-week Weight Training     Jun.  LSD/climbs           Jul.  Transition to CX

Last Week of July:
Hell Week:  Daily Running, Speed Intervals/Road, LSD/Wknd-Road 4+ Hrs.

Sept.  CX Camp
Sept. On CX Course Baseline Performance Assessment
Sept.  First CX Race of 2016 Season

To Be Continued...
Velo Magic

Actions Speak Louder Than Words

Secret CX Camp 2016

Secret CX Camp follows the first week of transition a.k.a. Hell Week.
Here again, Ywoop Cycling Productions hosted the pre-season mid-week cyclocross training skills-drills baseline assessment program.

In a secret location riders attend this training session by invitation only.  All I can say is that I feel lucky to have been included in this years annual event that was attended by a number of riders that may be as few as 1, or topped out at 27.  This 1-hour session took data on a skills and disciplines format that included; Cornering, Run-ups, and Interval Repeats. 

The Highlight of this 1-hour session was the 10-Minute (3 x 3) Grass interval session.
30 seconds of seated position riding at Tempo
Followed by 30 seconds of 85% to 90% out-of-saddle effort,
Then a 30 second recovery period.
Repeated and continued for 10-minutes.

Outcomes may very.

Regatta Ride

Wilkinsburg.  My plan was to do a long ride today somewhere in the area of 4-hours.
I got up not thinking about the Pittsburgh Regatta but the advertisement on TV reminded me.
So why not.  I figured that I would explore the Great Allegheny Passage as I made my way into Greensburg.  This worked out really well.  Road traffic was light as I cut across Shady Side area and down past Polish Hill and into the Strip District.   Downtown was full of Pirates fans on their way to the afternoon game, and way down by Heinz Field I rolled through the collection of speedboats and crew getting ready for the days event.  I got a great vantage point of the race by riding my bike along both sides of the river, but the best view was from the top of the Fort Pitt bridge.  As I imagined I was able to make my way over to the South Side following the GAP trail that was well marked and paved all the way to somewhere just south of McKeesport.  The trail was a little confusing at Boston (PA), but I stayed on the trail heading south and it all worked out, except for the fact that the trail from there all the way to West Newton where I got off was crushed stone.  (Not a fan of gritty white crud getting all over my bike and me.)  Once in Westmoreland Co. I was familiar enough to pick and choose my roads back to my homestead.  The ride was very nice, weather was perfect, and very scenic.
Met my ride time goal with 5-hours riding time.

Velo Magic
"Regatta Ride!"

July / Summer Notes: