CCCX XC SERIES

I was lucky to win the final race of the CCCX XC Series this past weekend. It was a fun course and a hard race. I was also lucky enough to win the overall CCCX Series title for my Expert 35+ division. I was also lucky to win 5 of the races during the season. This CCCX XC series win, combined with winning the TBF XC Series in Sacramento earlier in the year, means I accomplished both of my goals for MTB XC racing for 2008. I have trained hard, raced hard, and want to keep improving.

CCCX DH FINAL 2008 Spring/Summer

I really liked the course for the CCCX DH Final Race 2008 Spring/Summer. I felt really good on the race route and not only won my 4 race divisions on the day. I posted the fastest race run of all the divisions for the 2nd CCCX DH race in a row. I felt very lucky to also win 4 overall division titles of the 2008 series, Expert 35+-Hardtail- Single Speed- and No Chain.

CCCX DH FINAL

I set the CCCX DH final course today. The course is really good and it will be very fun to race on. I tried to get some active recovery today, as my legs are pretty spent. My knee is getting better and so is my hip, so today's rest combined with some work was good.

Tomorrow I will do an afternoon ride along the coast. Then I will participate in the Saturday morning road ride, where I always push myself very hard on the road bike.

Sunday will be the CCCX DH Series final race.

Hard Work

I have to do serious hard work to get better, stronger, and faster on the bike. I need proper rest and recovery for sure. But first I need to suffer like a mad man on the bike to get to the level I want to attain when riding. This extra hard work and super suffering combined with rest and proper nutrition is my key to succeed.

CCCX XC #8

I crashed hard at 6 pm the night before the CCCX XC #8 race. Not what I wanted to do for my preparation and build up for this race. I was doing my last check of the course, and next thing I know I was rider down!

My knee and hip were hurt pretty bad.

So for the race I was lacking power and it just got worse during the ride.

Yet I still managed to pedal to a 2nd place finish.

It is mind of matter, no pain no gain, but I know I could have rode better on this day...........

Relax

It is so important for me to remain relaxed. I am naturally a hyper person. So I must remain calm during the build up to a race, during the crucial racing situations, and after the event. It is very important for me to relax and save my energy and drive for when it matters most.

Spinning The Pedals

It was some very aggressive riding from the Tuesday night group this week. I wanted to just roll along as my legs were pretty sore from the weekends racing. But it was a attack filled workout, which was just what I needed. It makes me dig extra deep, and I am so thankful to have other riders trying to attack me. These attacks on me will only improve me as a racer!

It will be CCCX XC #8 this Sunday, and the course is really a challenge at Ft Ord. I picked a good route and I am eager to race.

I will spin the legs the next few days, combined with some hard surges, and then rest up for the race on Sunday.

Fuel For The Fire

Keeping focused on myself is very important. I can not change others, but I can remain focused on my task at hand and my performance. All the negativity and conflicts I face, only provide fuel for my fire.

CCCX SUPER D WINS

I was fortunate to win all 4 of my divisions today at CCCX DH #7. It was a Super D course, 3 miles long with 1500 feet vertical drop. The best of all was I posted the top 2 fastest times overall. I really hit all my lines and pushed it as hard as I could in the pedaling sections.

Hills

I like to ride the hills. I like to test myself going uphill. When I am able, I search for hills to ride on my training days. Riding the hills is my favorite place to ride, any hills, any where.

Rest

It is time to focus on rest and recovery. Then time to race. My schedule will be DH course set up Thursday, MTB ride Friday, Saturday Morning ride & a little bit of DH practice, and then the CCCX DH race on Sunday.

New Kit

This could be the new kit for me, I hope............

Road Bike Ride

It was 2 and 1/2 hours today on the road bike. I made some serious efforts in the Tuesday night Ft. Ord practice race. Lots of spinning the legs combined with some very hard surges.

Recovery Ride

My legs are really sore after the XC race on Sunday. Today it was 2 hours of recovery riding in the hills.

Climbing

Most of all I like to ride uphill. It is where I have always wanted to excel. I might be a natural at riding downhill. But riding uphill is where I always want to ride the most. From the very beginning I wanted to be a climber, like Dean Meyer who introduced cycling to me.

CCCX XC WIN

I was fortunate to have good form, and good luck, and claim a win at the CCCX XC race #7. I want to improve.