Emerging Life in the Woods

frog eggs

Vernal Equinox

The past few weeks have been wonderful with unseasonably warm weather in New Jersey. It is such a treat to finally be free from all the layers of insulated and windproof clothing that I have been hiding behind all winter. The sensation of wind and sun on my limbs is just pure bliss. I am not alone with this excitement, as butterflies are bouncing about, peepers are singing, snakes squirming around and yes, even bear scat has been spotted. The wood are alive, and spring is here for sure and it is quite early this year. No complaints on my part, just enjoying it for what it is. This is a good time to be a mountain biker!

Is It Spring Yet?

Saturday I raced the MTBNJ Short Track race at BSA camp in Allamuchy, NJ. Before I go any further, I will tell you that I do not normally race before May. I have always felt that my time riding and getting back in form is much better spent in a non competitive atmosphere, than stressed about being better, faster and stronger. There are so many cool things to see out on the trail and social experiences that I feel make me a better person. Riding with a narrow vision may take a person to a specific goal, but a broader experience is where I am at. This may not be the case for everyone, but I really like to enjoy my ride time as just ride time.

The week leading up the race was awesome with a few outstanding mountain bike rides with some ladies and a few days with temps in the 60's. How could anyone help but feel like spring was budding right in front of us. Call it spring fever .... I signed up to race. Quickly, other racers seemed pleased that they were not the only one with spring fever. Much to my surprise, it was 22 degrees when I arrived at the race. I ended up wearing all my winter clothing and it still felt cold before my race.

My race went well. No way was I mentally prepared to put in an all out effort like in cross, but I was very steady with my heart rate just about where I was hoping it would be this time of year. The climbs had begun to thaw and were turning into slimy mud. This made the racers fight for traction and get double the workout. My legs felt like toast, but that might be expected this time of year after doing a hard ride the day before.

What was really cool , was that there were several women racing for their first time. They were very excited, and that is great to see. Mountain bike racing has plenty of room for a few more ladies to join in the fun, and yes, every lady that raced was smiling at the finish line. Perhaps Short Track has some appeal for first timers. Either way, glad to see it in NJ.



photo by GTLuke


just a skim of ice

Looking for Spring

At Last ... Some Winter Riding

My most recent indulgence of late season cross racing has rearranged my winter training schedule for sure. For something that I thought would upset my winter, I have been pleasantly pleased with how things have worked out so far. Probably the biggest factor contributing to my feeling pleased, is that the weather this winter has been quite mild. I had a planned week off when I got home from Louisville and had a chance to get out on XC skis one day, and had a few forced days off that were enforced by broken pipes in our house which kept me indoors for a few days cleaning. I was annoyed at the time, and don't wish broken pipes on anyone, but looking back now, these came at a good time.

By the time I was thinking about trying to catch up with some long road rides, the temps went up and I had some great long rides up in Harriman by myself. I looked at my log to see how far behind I was with my winter riding, and realized that I was not only ahead of last year, but February was already here. Before this insight, I was under the impression that winter had just begun. This made me very happy to think that spring was more than halfway here. February is also a great month because you notice the days are getting longer. This past week, I enjoyed some after work mountain bike rides with my teammates. How nice is that?

For the most part, the bulk of my mountain biking over the past four months has been mostly on less technical terrain. My home trails are so technical that I actually need a break from them. As cross season starts, I shift my focus to a different form of riding and let go of my technical world. Many will not understand why I do this, but it is something that I feel I need to do. I am not a naturally fearless rider, I actually have to work at it, and taking a break gives me a chance to start fresh each year. Take a break and you forget. You forget some skills as well as bad habits and fears. You then have a fresh slate. Fear is a funny thing, and little fears can haunt you and make you think you can not do things. So much of riding is calculated, and often the risks can be minimized with finesse, mad skill and balance. It's just your head that distracts you at times.

This past weekend the ground refroze and conditions were perfect at Wawayanda. I rode 2 days on 2 different bikes, both 26er and 29er and started working on my skills and confidence. All I can say is "I love to ride all my bikes!" We rode from Ferber circle which is like singletrack concentrate. Awesome fun! I can't wait to get back up there again. Hooray for winter riding with friends!

Cyclocross Master World Championships

If you asked me a few years back, if I would ever race in January, I would have answered something like: “No, are you crazy?” ..... I’m not really sure how this past week came to be, but Cyclocross World Championships making it’s first visit to the U.S., was an opportunity not to be missed. It did not take all that much arm-twisting from friends to convince Art and me to make the trip to Louisville and register to race as part of this historic event.


Raystown Lake, Pa .... Our journey started with a quick stop at Raystown Lake Trails for a short ride to loosen our legs up. We had lunch and got back on route and quickly drove into rain.





Louisville: We arrived in Louisville after a few 50 degree rainy days that left the course very wet. The course is situated in a flood plain which is silt soil with a smooth and slippery texture. The first day of heat races churned the course into mud and puddles. Then the temps dropped into the low twenties making frozen ruts and ice over 80% of the course. The flyover and landing area was so icy, that before the heats could start the promoter poured bags of salt and added a few loads of dirt to the landing to make it safer.


Flyover


Art warming up in the truck

Art raced his seeding heat the morning of the first deep freeze, and conditions were very unpredictable, with racers getting hooked on ruts, falling and shooting off course. Even the leaders were struggling. I was uncertain if I should even pre-ride the course that day because the conditions were so sketchy. Several ladies told me that they would not ride in those conditions. Then the course crews started to relocate a few of the really bad sections, so I went out on course to give it try.

It took me a half of a lap to trust my instincts, but once I did, I really enjoyed trying to negotiate the conditions. It totally took my mind off of fitness and being nervous to race, as the conditions demanded full concentration. I rode the edges and zig-zaged across the ruts trying not to let them hook my wheel. When I got to the flyover, there were a few ladies discussing if they should ride down. I did not even want to look down. I just needed to trust in myself. Without hesitation, I stepped up to them and stepped onto my pedal and swung my leg over, and I was down smoothly.





The following day the sun came out, and by late day it warmed slightly, softening, churning and rutting the course up again. Yep, you guessed it …. twenties again at night and a dusting of snow to leave me frozen ruts and hidden ice for my early morning race. When I got there the crews were busy dumping wood chips and dirt on a few dicey sections, which really helped. I took 2 laps in the morning and once again enjoyed the challenge of the conditions and how it took my mind off of being nervous.


Run up


Start line


Staging

Eventually I took the line and was 2nd row behind Elite Time Trial World Champion and past Olympian, Karen Brems. Not that I had the goods to hold on to her wheel, but I had the best wheel in the line up, thanks to Art for pointing me to that spot. I had a good start and after the long stretch of pavement I was well within top 8, maybe even top 6. In the first lap, a few ladies passed me on straight stretches as we settled into our places. Then I tangled into some kevlar tape, which does not break but tosses you back, and I lost another spot. This momentarily flustered my confidence. It took me a half a lap, but I got my head together and back on pace.

The run ups were all steep with frozen shoe holes. My chain fell off on the barrier run up while head to head with another woman. I hopped on, found my pedals and shifted my chain up before the next turn, while staying in front. I am so pleased for staying calm and getting that done under pressure. I went back and forth with several women in lap 3 and 4. Then going into the last section, they both ended up in front of me and they opened up a very small gap. I took the inside line with the giant rut into the second to last run-up. I hung out my inside leg, and managed to keep the bike upright, which put me right behind the other two women. I hustled up the final run-up and mounted quickly to get in front of one of them, and then took the inside line into the final turn and passed the other. I ended up 2nd in the finish sprint, which placed me 12th overall.



By afternoon the course completely changed. Art's race was a total mud slog. He had no pit bike, and ground out the whole race, only able to find one happy gear where he could keep his chain on. Many of the racers were struggling, but Art stayed tough and held a strong 15th in a large field. The conditions were so diverse, It's hard to believe both our races were on the same day. By the last race of the day, racers were only getting 3 laps in the allotted time because of the mud. I never thought I would say this, but I was happy for the frozen ruts and ice.


Art's bike


Erin after the muddiest race of the weekend. We enjoyed some beer while cars were getting pushed out of the mud.

This race was a great experience with totally epic conditions. I was uncertain how I would hold up in full winter conditions, but I thought I did really well, and to my surprise, I actually enjoyed the frozen conditions. It was also very inspiring to race in a class with so many strong athletes. I certainly have my work cut out for me, if I should want do this again next year.


Ray's Indoor park in Cleveland!! Oh heck .... we are out here anyway, so why not stop and check out Ray's! You can be certain that Pixy was terrorizing the little peanuts in the beginner and novice areas.


Drove back into rain. ..... The whole view of Pennsylvania

2012 and One Week to Go ....

2012 is here and while I have had some thoughts about the new year, I found myself putting them on hold in order to try to focus on this one last race to wrap up my cyclo-cross season. I'm headed to Cyclocross Master World Championships and I am not sure if I am ready to race, but I am looking forward to the journey and the new experiences I may have, as well as the the long anticipated break that lies ahead at the end of my race season. Stay tuned for some pictures and stories.

MAC CX Series Grand Finale

This past weekend, the Mac Series took us back to Fairhill in Maryland on Saturday and then up to Allentown Pa for the grand finale of the series of fourteen races. I have been sitting in second place for most of the series and Art has worked his way up to fifth. We were both anxious to get out and race and give it our best and make our final decision on whether we still had any gas left in the tanks to consider racing at Master World Championships in Louisville Kentucky on January 11-15.

Friday we headed down early with our mountain bikes to ride White Clay again. That worked out so well last time. We gave it another shot. This time, I did not have a stiff neck and the weather was really sunny and warm. We had a laid back ride, no heart rate monitors or clocks, just pedaling and giggling as we twisted and undulated our way though the woods. When we exited the woods, we had a winter sky above that reminded me that winter is indeed on it’s way.

Fairhill Race: The race was held on a fair grounds/horse racetrack. The long course would take racers through three distinct districts that were separated by woods or buildings. On course were barriers, off cambers, barns, a run up and a trip into a sandy horse ring around barrels. There was also an actual wide single track through the woods, which was really cool for us mountain bikers.

I got off to a good start, and found myself in fourth place chasing Katy in third. The two leaders, Liz and Jen seemed to ride out of site on the first lap. I chased hard but I felt like I was losing ground trying to catch Katy and I still had a train of ladies behind me. Diane behind me was cheering for me. Funny, because I usually do that sort of thing and I think it is catching on. Yes, we all need motivation, and there are so few women, we can’t help but encourage each other, even when racing. The inner support between women in cross is so much like mountain biking in that respect.

I held for a lap in fourth and found I was no longer fading but holding steady with Katy just barely in sight in front of me. Then I noticed Jen in the mix with Katy, yet I was still 15 seconds back or so. It did not seem realistic that I would catch either of them, but I gave it a shot because I will never get better if I don’t try in these situations. I have a long list of things I could use to improve on, but one thing I am pretty good at is being efficient on the latter half of my race when other racers may start to fall apart. I have been trying not to get too discouraged in the first half but just plow ahead and hope things get better. They usually do.

I went into the bell lap chasing, and finally passed Jen. Jen is very strong and has won almost all the races in this series. I found out after, she had flatted earlier and changed bikes in the pit and was struggling with an unfamiliar pit bike. I could not hold my pass that long, and as we entered the last third of the final lap, Jen passed Katy and me back. To make things worse, I drifted back another 10 seconds from them.

As I climbed up hill past the pit, I began to give up as I was suffering and it was too close to the finish to dream of catching back up to them. Art screamed at me, and announced that they were suffering too. This was probably the best insight he could relay to me at that time. These were both strong racers, and I wanted to come in as close as possible on their heals if I could, and you never know when a door will open in front of you. With that, I charged the downhill towards the turn to the run up. It was a bit greasy and had chain link fence, not tape if I overshot it, but I felt confident going in with a tad more speed. Not only did I bridge back up, but the turn carved so nicely that I almost passed Katy on the inside, but then the door shut.

I am not very savvy or experienced with passing in turns nor would I want to take anyone out. So I did what is my nature, just to hang. Then the barriers opened door #1 around Katy. I entered the final sand ring on Jen's wheel. She dabbed the first turn, I dabbed the first turn, then she chose to run the next turn, and I preferred to dab and stay on. As I powered back up in the sand, door #2 opened, and I was by and up to speed very quickly. The finish line was a short paved sprint after exiting the sand ring, so I had to hustle. I really did not think I could beat Jen in a sprint, but Katy was close and I really did not know how close. Julie Lockhart gave me some advise once: always contest a sprint, even if you think they are not in your class, because you never know who may slip in there with them. So with that embedded in my brain, I hammered and was lucky enough to claim 2nd place behind elite racer Liz Harlow.

It was a very exciting race for me, to say the least. I was so excited afterwards, that I did not even realize that winter had arrived.







Limekiln Race: We arrived at the race to find a frosty wonderland, glittering with course tape. The bright sunshine was much appreciated as it was my first really cold morning this year. Art and I were glad to have our last race be a course that was so much fun and somewhat challenging. Art had a super race and placed 3rd with a big smile on his face. My race was not as smooth as his, and reminded me that I need to practice more stuff. It also included some suffering, some heckling, some laughing and a really spectacular crash into a pine tree, sending me sideways over the course tape. I was amazed that I did not get hurt. The fear in my eyes as I was headed for that tree was enough to wimp me into walking the descent on the laps to follow. Sorry to disappoint anyone that thought I was a super hero, but we all get mentally rearranged now an then, and I was happy the pine tree only broke my confidence and not my bones. I will face that demon another day. I did manage to rally back into third place, and finish on a good note.

Racing the Mac series this year has been really fun for us both, and this past weekend was a great series finale. ..... Louisville Bound!

Sussex CX

Being one of the oldest cross races in New Jersey, Sussex CX race is a tradition for many. This year was spectacular with warm temperatures and dry conditions. For some reason I was really looking forward to racing this day, and I have no idea why. I just woke up feeling like I was going to have fun. This is a good thing for sure.

I tried to get a lap on the course, but did not have enough time for a whole lap before the first race got underway, so I had to wait for the first race to finish before I could go out again. This was the first time I messed up my pre-ride timing, but I adjusted and waited. It was really no big deal, but it meant I would not be able to assist Art at his start. I hated to abandon him, but I felt I needed to get out on course to get a feel for things, and this would be my last chance.

Although not super technical, the course was quite challenging with a triple, up hill set of barriers that plucked you smack in front of a muck hole, and a single barrier very close to a run up, sending your heart rate out of control every time. So, even though the ground was mostly firm, the promoters made things a bit interesting for sure.

I struggled getting my heart rate up while on the trainer before my race, leaving me not properly warmed up at the start. At least I got a pre-ride lap on course before which was a help. When the gun (trombone actually) went off, I felt like I got dropped on the slightly uphill start. I got a little panicky, but once I turned the corner to level ground, I was able to bridge up and make my first pass right before the grass. I entered the grass at full speed trying to take the turn as wide as possible so that I did not have to brake. I ended up using the whole track, nearly touching the tape. When I looked up, I realized I was back on the train.

During the first lap, I passed the leader, who had crashed and was fiddling with her bike on the side, and two racers, leaving me in third place. I pressed and suffered for 3 laps trying just to hang onto Christina in the turns. She would start to get away and then I would dig deep and reel her back. Not sure if she had a weak moment or I had a surge, but I passed her on one of the climbs and buried myself to give myself a cushion for the turns ahead. With this little effort, I started to catch sight of Erin ahead. That carrot on the stick was all I needed, to keep me pushing ahead. Three laps, and probably my fastest laps of the day, I crossed the finish line in second place. This was the women's elite field, so I won some cash as well as a cool cowbell.

When I got home, I started to analyze my race. The week before, I read a blog post by Colin R of Crossresults.com:
http://untilthesnowends.blogspot.com/2011/10/providence-day-1-lap-time-analysis-aka.html
and decided to compare my race time with the guys. What I found was surprising: If I raced the men's 50+ (which is my age bracket), I would have been 11 th out of 24. If I raced Cat 4/40+, I would have won by almost 2 minutes. I also would have finished 20 seconds behind last place in open B men. What does all this mean? I guess I am faster than I thought I was, but not as fast as the young boys. I am glad to race with the ladies, and hope to get more out racing. .... Keeping 2012 Cyclo-cross Master World Championships on my radar.

White Clay / Fairhill

With Race #10 in the MAC cyclo-cross series being in Maryland on Saturday, Art and decided to drive down on Friday so we did not have to get up in the wee hours and drive down the morning of our race. If we drove down Friday mid day, we could mountain bike at White Clay the day before our race. We had heard good things about White Clay, but had never been.

White Clay trails were not technical but twisted and undulated through the woods allowing bikers to swoop along like a bird. I was a tad bummed because I had a stiff neck that did not allow me to lift my head enough to ride fast, but it felt great to get out and ride on some buffed out trails. My home trails of Ringwood are so rocky that I do miss fast swoopy trails and the experience that comes with them. I think I may need to go back to this place again for a more complete test ride when my neck is better.

Art and I found a great restaurant for dinner that night, the "Blue Crab Grill". We had some fantastic crab cakes. I usually don't drink beer the night before a race, but Arts Troogs Java Head Stout looked so good, I had to have a taste. Well, it was yummy. So I did not need any arm twisting. I ordered one too, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I was half hoping it may help my stiff neck, so that I would feel more up to racing the next day.

It's amazing the affects of a good beer.... Although not completely gone, my neck was much better in the morning, and I was thrilled to find a fairly dry course in the morning. Things were looking good and I set out on course to take a lap. The lap was really fun so I took another lap just a little faster and the course only got better. There were some momentum sections that crossed a ravine and a mini table top ... so cool! After the last few cold wet mud slogs, this course was just what the doctor ordered for my spirits.

The race got under way and things heated right up. I ended up holding 2nd place for most of my first lap and all the fun parts of the course were even better at speed with a tight mix of racers. Three of us stayed close and battled it out back and forth the entire race. I ended up fourth, but gave it all I had and put up a good fight. In so many races women get spread out and it is hard to keep motivated, but this day was not at all like that. It was a fantastic and exciting experience like cross should be. The Mac series is really the premier series for competitive women in the northeast. I see now that I may need to practice passing in turns, as I never seemed to have enough gas on the straights. I hope to have more close racing in my near future.