Sunday, May 3, 2009

Bunny Hop

Last year I got 5th in the 1,2,3 race and 3rd in the masters 35+. This year I got 5th in the 1,2,3 race and 3rd in the masters 35+. The difference? It was hot as hell last year, and this year it was raining. There was also a difference in my form. I was fitter last year, and this year I am on my third week of training after letting my form go for a month to ramp it up in preparation for the NRC races and the UCI race I will be doing in the next few months.

When your getting fit for the first time, or getting back into racing after a very long break (8 yrs for me), I think you have to get every mile you can and just beat your self into submission. Once your competitive at an elite level, you go through cycles of build up and let go. For me, it is hard letting form go, but I realize the benefits. I am not a believer of avoiding burn-out, if you burn out from doing what you love you probably are fooling yourself and don't really love it at all and need to do something else. I think the real worry is getting flat, stale. What ever.

My wife bought a few records at the thrift store yesterday. She doesn't really know the 70's rock, but she'll buy them all and right now I'm blasting 900 watts of record crackling guitar screaming "Frampton Comes Alive", and if I get any more pumped I might throw a beer bottle through the window. Oh yeah, I'm having a few beers right now. Perfect post race meditation.

During the 1,2,3 race I yelled "If you can't sprint drop back", I was halfway joking. One guy (who I will not name) said "I can sprint!" Three corners later, out of the last turn, I heard a wet swoosh and a Batman like "SMASH" "BOOM" and "POW". I was told he crashed. Maybe I jinxed him? I hope he is OK.

A very good rider in the 1,2,3 race told me pre race that only 3 racers he knew of that were cat 1's blogged. Myself, Russ Langley and Pete Cannell. He said the only reason he saw for blogging was to say "HEY! Look at me, how good I am!" or "This is my excuse". He then promptly went home and posted on Facebook how well he did. I will probably be de-friended now, but I'm just saying... Funny thing after he told me that, another person said I should blog more, like once a day. If social acceptance is what I needed, I would be bi-polar.

I got to the race way early and watched the juniors, women, cat 4's and a bunch of other races. If Steven Black, the Junior, sticks with racing he is going to crush everyone.

On my way to the race, I had an incident. Leaving 495 to branch ave the cautionary sign says '25mph', so I did 15mph cause I drive like an old lady. As I got onto Branch Ave, my car started fish-tailing. I over corrected what seemed like 10 time, but was more like 4 and succeeded in sliding backwards facing traffic - which was doing an excellent job of avoiding me. I handled it like Jason Borne (if he almost shits his pants in these situations). I was breathing heavy and I could feel my heart pound in my ears as I looked at the cement wall I was parallel parked inches from. The the first car to come off the off ramp came flying at me and had to skid around me and into Branch ave. More cars came skidding around me as I tried to start my reluctant car. Finally, it started and I started driving as fast as I could backwards down Branch ave. After about a half mile, I stopped, then luckily God decided to stop toying with me like a cat with a half dead mouse and all 4 lanes of traffic stopped. I did a U-turn and drove right past my exit. I just kept going straight until my heart calmed and I could let the death grip off of the steering wheel to shift gears and use my turn signal.

19 comments:

  1. The car may need new rubber..or sumpin. Weird results and so on..I am a 1 and I blog but I don't post for my egos sake just to kill time and retell the tale...but well we all know the value of opinions. Sprinting and rain...bad combo. Frampton is cool and windows are best intact. Keep posting and if you got it flaunt it.

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  2. you totally jinxed me, couldn't have been the wet roads and high speeds. besides, I said I could sprint not corner.

    No worries, barely any road rash.

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  3. Dude, I love what you post. I post for what my thoughts are and own personal ammunition. I think most people relate to my own thoughts and are afraid to admit it out loud that they think the same way. If not I guess I am some wierdo. I like to reread what I said about previous races and my own thoughts. Kind of weird to read what you wrote about 2 years ago and how your opinion or thoughts have changed. I like reading anyone's blog to kill time and to get insight. I think the guys in the higher categories have some of the best stories.

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  4. Chuck,

    Post all you want, we'll read more. Seriously though, from the 3 or 4 posts of yours that I have read, I really like them. Plus, the "SMASH" "BOOM" and "POW" let me know that I made the right decision to stay home and hang out with my 2 year old daughter instead of doing the 3/4 race.

    I also relate to your 8 years off because I had almost 20 years away from racing, but I was never a 1 and probably never will be unless I win the lottery and don't have to work to pay the bills. Also, like you, I take time away from the bike and then start to ramp it up after tax season. Wish I could ride just a little during tax season, but such is life.

    Good luck with the rest of the season and keep on posting. The ones that are commenting about it are probably the ones that are jealous.

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  5. There are plenty of Cat 1s who blog, and plenty more racers who blog who will end up as Cat 1s soon enough. It's easy to look at the Cat 3s, 4s and 5s and say that blogging is for amateur hacks. But can you think of many pros who don't have a personal website, blog or journal, or three quarters of a million followers on Twitter? Me neither.

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  6. Chuck,
    I love reading your blog. You're one of the funniest guys out there blogging about cycling and it's great that you are not totally serious about yourself as a CAT 1, pro or whatever. I always seem to get a chuckle out of your posts. Keep it up and don't worry about what others say.

    For Christ sake... I thought most racers were decent drivers... dump the car and ride a bike. I don't want to be out there with you driving like that. Hehe.

    BTW, I don't think you're less fit than last year. In fact I think the opposite. You weren't crushing everyone in your training rides last year, like you do now.
    My view:
    Last year there was a full field.
    This year apparently it was minimal.. however the hardcore guys were still out there, even in the rain.

    My results last year:
    CAT123 - 35th
    Masters 40+ - DNF.. Puking my guts out because of the heat.
    Year before:
    CAT123 - 12th.

    This year... DNS... Fair weather racer now. Getting soft. LOL

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  7. Chuck,

    we lost control of our vehicle on the way to the hop at the same spot and fishtailed a bunch. I summoned my inner Mario Andretti and was able to steer out of it. Nasty oil or something on that off ramp. Keep blogging bro!

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  8. Well, I feel special now! I didn't plan on discontinuing blogging, I was just telling a story I thought was funny - but thanks for the support. Glad to here your fine Greg, sorry I jinxed you.

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  9. i think el carne should stop. how's that?

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  10. are u trying to get a rise out of me man? Just cause you score a top five, don't mean shit man...;)

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  11. >>>only 3 racers he knew of that were cat 1's blogged

    "Ever bike? Now that's something that makes life worth living! I take exercise every afternoon that way. Oh, to just grip your handlebars and lay down to it, and go ripping and tearing through streets and road, over railroad tracks and bridges, threading crowds, avoiding collisions, at twenty miles or more an hour, and wondering all the time when you're going to smash up. Well now, that's something! And then go home again after three hours of it, into the tub, rub down well, then into a soft shirt and down to the dinner table, with the evening paper and a glass of wine in prospect — and then to think that tomorrow I can do it all over again!"
    — Jack London (decent writer, hack cyclist)

    Other hack cyclists who wrote well about it - Hemmingway, Mark Twain, H.G. Wells, Arthur Conan Doyle.

    I think if you want to write, you should write. Who cares what people think, life is short so write well, be happy and tell a good story. That's why I like your blog, BTW - you tell a good story and share insights I wouldn't think about otherwise.

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  12. I read you, Kyle and DJ every day. Even when you guys have nothing to say. Haven't seen you in a while up till yesterday...I'll get out there to get in your way on the noon ride soon though.

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  13. I also think you are as good as London, Wells, Doyle and Hemmingway (probably not Twain). I have known for a long time that you tell a good story and I read you everyday, too.

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  14. that is the flippin funniest thing I've read in a while (the backwards driving) hilarious

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  15. Yea chuck until they start making Nerf cars you should probably stick to the bike. I remember one night in Sac. we were at a club and I had a couple beers so you offered to drive. I don't think you even made it out of the parking lot before I decided it was probably better if I drove.

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  16. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, CHUCK!

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