Showing posts with label cross. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cross. Show all posts

Tuesday, October 8, 2013

Push left to go left

So I've been practicing a bit at the local park. I'm showing up in the mornings, pulling out cans and bottles from some of the trashcans, and setting up small loops. I've been practicing counter steering (or what I think it counter steering) and I'm learning that pushing left really does go left!

I've also been doing longer loops around courses marked by trees and really sprinting from turn to turn. Great practice! Even if I don't get any stronger, improved cornering should keep me safer and shave off seconds - maybe minutes?

Monday, September 30, 2013

Like a kid on Christmas

Four races into my first CX season, I'm starting to take some notes of my races. Otherwise, how will anyone know that the reason I finished so poorly at Gloucester Day 2 was a flat tire? (That was one of many reasons, actually.)

Gloucester in '12 was the first cross race I ever saw. The moment I saw the course and the racers, like ants traveling in lines, seemingly in all directions, my eyes opened wide. Like a kid on Christmas. I *knew* I needed to try this!

 A few months later, I bought a bike, a steel-framed '11 Trek Presidio (more on that later). I set some goals: complete D2R2 and try cross race in '13. Today, in September of '13 I can truthfully say I accomplished my goals for the year, and then some.

I rode all spring and summer with Ride Studio Cafe. I went to CycleSmart CX Camp. I've now raced four times, and I'm hooked! I love the races, I love the scoring, I love the fans, and I can't stop thinking about racing.

 The only problems is, I'm pretty terrible! This blog will help me track and share my progress from a Cat 5 newbie to a Cat 4 wannabe, and then, who knows?

I'm #260 at White Park in Concord, NH.