Bill's Blog (Web Log)

Montana Velo Cyclocross Race in Helena

I am finally home and will attempt to blog.  Hmm, what does one say. You must first understand why I was like a bear with a torn in it's paw today. I was grouchy and ill tempered but fortunately I have reasons.

My main reason is abdomen pain that developed after Saturday's race.  I arrived at my friends house and started to have these attacks that would almost double me over and give me chills.  Throughout the evening I had this pain in my lower stomach area.  I did not sleep well and got no sleep last night.

So there I was on a perfect day (should of been mountain biking) with my friends. But things started feeling weird. I was seeing, hearing, and getting reports that some of my friends were getting treated with no respect by some elements of the MVC race venue. Us non road riding humans need the same respect as others.  If it seems we are not taking things seriously in reality we are just having fun. Anyway, better stop there.

So there I am hurting and getting talked down to although good friends and fellow racers outnumbered the negative ones. So just start the race and have a good ride and cross race on a great cross course, right?

Oh yea, the course ... it was another great edition by Geoff. There was a big ol pavement section for the power users but then that was the only flat part of the course. The loop begins by diving around a corner and through a very short sand section.  Then that dumps out to some zigging and zagging around  the Helena High parking lot. Then the fun part, short tough grassy climbs, great off comber grassy corners, and these two sets of long stair run ups.  It was awesome to have this new flavor of hurt in the race.  This course hurt ... but it was good.

Ok so I start slow and things seemed ok except for a sharp pain when I ran.  I really started slow but remember I don't feel well.  Then I hear some comments.  I love the support and I think it is great that the races are split up so we can watch each other.  But today I must of had a perception problem because I was hearing "that's a great position" and "stop toying around" ... my friends, I am suffering and doing the best I can given my situation.  And I was winding it up to, but then I started hitting the end of my surge and started to slow.  So I guess they were right ... I sucked.  Overall everyone shouted encouragement and it was those shout outs that kept me putting down the hurt hammer on course.

I wanted to put in the best effort possible on the last lap but my new shifters broke and rendered my bike a single speed.  Not a good single speed but a single speed that would of only been good on a steep hill.  The finish was on the flats and I had to spin like 150 rpm's to get to the finish line in my current position.

That was about the last straw and I was pissed.  I tried desperately to fix my bike so I could do some more riding around the course to cool down.  But I could not fix it and put it in the car to come home. Before heading home the team stopped in at the pub for burgers.  I traveled home listening to the Two Johns Podcasts ... What a beautiful day it was despite the bad luck.

I sit here now no energy, tired and achy ... time for bed.  If I cant sleep it will be a trip to the doc tomorrow. The cycling season is over next weekend with the State Championships and I don't know if I will have health or even a bike.  Maybe Ill do the mountain bike.

Bobcat Classic Cyclocross Race

Just finished the cross race here in Bozone and fell in love with the course. It started out the usual way but before long you were getting sprayed with mud and dismounting for a thick clay like mud run up. Once remounted you navigate a side hill slippery than snot section before a power climb. Some wiggle waggles in a upper parking lot then down to a mud crossing at high speed. Now that you have a big grin on your face you double barrier hop and start pedaling for a long stretch back to the central area that was ultra fun for spectation (is that a word). Then the inner section that includes a grass power climb and a grassy corner run up.. Ultra cool course.

It was so cool I continued on from the finish to do 2 more laps (and everyone was like "WTF?"). So how did the race go? I started modestly in fact I waved goodbye to the entire field. Eventually I did start progressing my way to the usual mid pack position to do battle with like minded folken.

I dueled it out with a couple dudes and paused for a moment in the end to let one get away. But I kept it low key and fun. I told someone before I started that it would be better to race the course clean and hard rather than get cot up in placing well and the included battles. And I did ... good times.

I wonder what everyone did in Missoula today? Mules to Helena tomorrow! See you there.

Dont Want Any Stinking Pie

After reading Back From Helena Montana Mon, November 13 I realize I am getting slower. I am old! Is it time to retire from racing? For me it is all or nothing. Can't enjoy in between.

Last night I struggled after work. I fell asleep on the couch and it was all I could do to wake up and get outside to do something. I ended up running a 5 mile trail on Waterworks Hill. After I stopped by the City Brew to enjoy a scone and a call to mom and dad. More stress there learning their new financial decision.

Is it the dark conditions or the cold weather that is killing my ambition. Tomorrow night I hope to regain some by having a ride at Blue Mountain. By getting others out and excited I hope to get myself excited. Cant bail out when someone else is involved. Did I just come up for an argument for being in a relationship.

I will be at Blue Mountain Recreation Area main parking to ride my Blue Berry Pie loop a 6pm tomorrow (Thursday) night. Well ... unless we get lots of snow. The loop includes great views of the city lights while at the same time technical enough to keep your mind on the trail. There is great down hills and one real gut wrench of a climb! Here is my map! http://tinyurl.com/bberrypie

Falling Behind

Sun is out today in Missoula but who cares? Yea, just a little depressed here. Go to work in the dark and come home in the dark.  Good times.

What doesn't help is when your getting screwed.  Digital Bridge Communications is screwing me. Missoula does not have many options for Internet service providers.  I need broadband because I decided to get rid of my phone and use a Internet phone to save money.  So I pay 30 bucks a month. 

You might say what a deal; but in reality I squeal. I get worse bandwidth then dial-up and this means that my phone works 10 % of the time.  What pisses me off the most is that they advertise all the time about high speeds and blah blah blah.  I call up tech support and they tell me to call them when I am near my modem ... lol. On a Internet phone without connectivity?

The problem is that they have overstressed the network with to many customers and instead of improving the infrastructure they just advertise more and hang their customers out to some 3rd party support staff. Beware of http://www.digitalbridgecommunications.com/ ... BEWARE! I am documenting and submitting a consumer complain to the MT DOJ.

On a positive note tonight is the Starry Night Ride where I plan to be at the Rattlesnake Rec Area Trailhead Parking at 6 PM tonight. My plans are what I call Trans Ratt ==> http://tinyurl.com/mtb-plans and I am expecting a wet ride and possible snow at the Snow Bowl Lookout but hopefully not enough to deter a dedicated group of hearty souls lost in the darkness.

Oh yea, what does the photo have to do with this post?  Nothing! It was taken by M. Richardson (and a video). How did the race go?  I suck and when one sucks so bad it is hard to tell what is going on otherwise. I better start pedaling or get off the bike.

This weekend. Cross race here in Missoula.

Voted Yo

Freaking Lance Armstrong! The dude travels halfway around the world then returns to Austin to win a time trail on the weekend.  In doin so doesn't miss a turn as he partakes in Halloween with his children (or child, don't know). Then yesterday (my day off from training) he goes for a session at the gym and then a ride before jumping on the plane to San Diego where he is in a wind tunnel right now.  Makes me more depressed! I suck man.

I did get up early this morning to vote.  Everything is in a time freeze right now and life is in a holding pattern.  I walked down the street and penciled in my vote to be the 25th voter in my district. So now it is the news watch and all night excitement to see a new era ushered in.  It is either the era of mass exodus from this sinking ship or a new effort to begin anew.

I am thinking much like when I moved to Montana overweight and semi-healthy.  One day I rolled up my sleeves and said enough is enough, I was going to become a cyclist again. And I did.  Maybe even better than before although I am on the verge of back slipping into mediocrity as a racer right now.  Tomorrow is a new day and hopefully a new plan to be effective again. If not .... There is always the Kettlehouse!

To Helena

Well it is time to get the heck out of Dodge (Missoula). Hello from my apartment where I pack the car to head off to do the 7th stop in the MBRA Cyclocross Series. I am bot enthused and not enthused.  For some reason this time of year I just cant convince myself to suffer.

I took a week off from training in hopes to regain some of my enthusiasm for racing.  I mean come on! Cyclocross season is supposed to be a vacation from mountain bike racing. I sure wish there was a mountain bike race somewhere!

As we will see what happens when you don't ride your cross bike for a week I did get some much needed "me" time.  Yesterday I did nothing but watch football, post some photos, and eat.  Today I will pay for it all as I must give some tax back to the monster in the pain cave.

So here is a run down of the albums I posted yesterday:

• October 25th, 2008 - Flathead Valley Muleterro Trip (Saturday October 25th 2008): Album is about last Friday as I packed my backpack, bike, and extra wheels and I hiked to the Van Buren Street Exit. It is there I met up with a band of travelers know as Team Muleterro. We headed to Kalispell to brother Mule ERock's brother's house. Photos are of our trip to the Flathead Valley and our two races, Woodland and Heron Park Cross.
• October in Missoula (Sunday October 19th 2008): I updated this album with more photos of things in Missoula, when the days get shorter and mountain biking starts to fade as winter approacheth! Includes photos from the Helgate Duathalon.
• Thursday Night Ride Pictures (Thursday October 16th 2008): I posted new photos to this album as well. These photos are from various cameras during our Thursday Night Rides. http://thursdaynightmtbr.org/ for more details! The latest photos are near the top
• October 5th, 2008 - Helena Cyclocross Races (Sunday October 5th 2008): Two races, a traditional race and a dirt criterion. The cyclocross course was fantastic and the dirt crit was brutal.