Every time I get off the phone with the LMC people I am more excited.
Three days off was enough to rejuvenate after Ruby. One can't get too negative about things or else it will have adverse effects on the material self. I knew that. Lesson learned. Positive energy only.
At mystical enchanted training grounds. Can you guess which trail this is?
Let me first begin by telling you about my place of employment over the past month. It's a grocery store called Jokeridge Market.. I mean Oakridge Market. Why I'm working there is another story, but I am, and I hate it. The phrase "sick and tired" takes literal meaning when I am there cashiering. I worked three eight hour shifts all ending at 10 p.m. three days in a row prior to the race at Ruby. I noticed for the first time two days before the race that I was becoming sick as the course of my work day went on. I would leave with a soar throat and little energy. I would go home and fall asleep almost immediately. The first day it happened, the symptoms went away the next day, but when it happened again on Saturday night, the symptoms were still there Sunday morning. To make matters worse I woke up with a migraine, not the worst one ever, but still a migraine.
When I woke up the morning of the race, I didn't even think about the way I was feeling; didn't even mention it to my parents who were going to drive an hour to come see me race. I was hoping that everything would just go away and the euphoria of racing my bike would overcome all. Unfortunately, at the start line, that wasn't the case and after the first lap that harsh reality set in. I felt aweful but pressed on with the intention of giving my friends and family something to see since they came to see me.
The worst part of it all was that I had prepared top fitness for this race. I decided not to go to U-23 Nationals this year due to financial reasons, and so instead I peaked for this race as I knew it would offer excellent competition. I was in excellent shape before the race where I rode practice laps at Ruby in times close to what I "raced" only days later. I had ridden my fastest training laps at the local trails; I was ready.
But shit happens as they say. Time to move on. There are some big races still on the horizon. After breaking down at work and on the race course I'm taking a week to regroup before beginning a new training cycle aimed at the NCCA D1 cycling national championships. That's right...
A few months ago I went to the Paris to Ancaster race in Canada with Jason Lummis. As we drove down 696 on the way back home, I watched out the window as the "entering Warren" sign drifted by. "Welcome to Warren," I said in a not-so-enthusiastic tone "a great place, a great place to ride bikes, huh?" Jason had told me the day before about Lees-McRae college in beautiful North Carolina and about how a couple great Michigan riders have went there. After my remark he brought it up again and I think that time it stuck. Still, it wasn't until a few weeks later that I wondered on to the internet and looked the place up. I sent an inquiry and forgot about it. A few weeks later I heard from the coach. Everything took off from there.
Now, not much remains before my fate is sealed. Finally, after years of complaining about how much I hate this place, it looks like I'm getting out of here. I'll be leaving behind the square mile grids of five lane roads intersected by free-ways every couple miles, the thousands and thousands of cars that occupy them, the dumbass drivers with cell phones attached to their heads that drive the cars, Oakridge, and everything else I hate about suburbia.
I wonder how my racing will be effected when I can train freely without interference from drive-in America?
Okay, I haven't been riding for 20 years, but I've been around. I've bombed around the most badass 10 mile loops in Michigan, down some of the sickest down hills in NC, and up some of the longest road climbs in the U.P. I've ridden aluminum, scandium alloy, carbon fiber, and full suspension bikes. I've tooled around on a couple 29ers, but nothing serious.
As a racer and a bike rider who just likes to go fast in general, I'm always looking for the best way to get a leg up on my speed. So what's my take on 29ers? Well, for the most part I think they're marketing/word of mouth hype, not unlike anything else. I do think there are some advantages, namely sand and soft terrain. You hear all the great reviews, but you hear great reviews every time something new comes out. What you don't hear so often is people who lay down a couple grand on a new bike and say they don't like it. I think there are at least two reasons for this. First, new bikes are just awesome, no matter what. When all your bearings are rolling smooth, your suspension is supple, and your shifting is clean, you feel like you are flying. It's like a breath of fresh air after riding in Warren for six months. Secondly, I think people are too ashamed to admit they spent a crap load of money on something that isn't as good as their old steed, especially when it's that new thing that every one is talking about.
Then what kind of bike do I like? Well, it's one that's light, simple, and has smooth mechanical action (and okay, it has to have front suspension and tubeless tires, two of the greatest mtb inventions of all time). Nothing more, nothing less. After riding various machines over these past seasons, I find that none of them are able to produce faster times at the trails or on the roads in comparison to the others. They all leave me feeling the same after a three hour thrash fest at the trail, hard tail or full suspension, carbon fiber or aluminum. I will not deny that certain bikes perform better in certain circumstances; light bikes climb better, suspension descends better, hard tails accellerate quicker and are faster on the flats. But still, no bike will offer a major advantage in any of the previously listed departments to make it a better, faster ride than the other guy's bike. This is why I don't currently have any plans to purchase a 29er, 69er, 96er or whatever Chris Eatough might be riding next week.
Like I said, I haven't been around for very long, and therefore my opinions could change in the future. I guess I'll find out next season when I build up a new machine.
So having said all that, what does make the difference? No, it's not the carbon fiber, it's not the 400 gram tire, not the size of the wheel, but it is the training. It's that simple. Train harder and you will become faster, no matter what bike you ride.
Please consider this when you are thinking about spending $6500 on a new mountain bike. Don't be mislead by what you read on MMBA or mtbr.
I was going to post the picture of it, but here's a link instead. Remember this?
Elsewhere, training has been going well. I DNS the Stony marathon because I got sick that week. I missed some important training, and therefore thought it would be better to train than to race in preparation for my next race. I am very behind in the state rankings, but I am no longer concerned with that as there has been a major change of plans. Stay tuned for the scoop on that.
