Inspired by The Girl with the Cowbell Tattoo who wrote about her mid-term score, here’s what I’ve tried and what I need to try still in this, my second season of cyclocross.
Things I’ve Tried:
Thanks to the Jens Voigt Army for the photo
- Looking 10 yards out instead of at my wheel. This works especially well for me on off-camber sections. I don’t get worried about sliding out, and I pedal smoothly.
- Eating a gel before a race. This has not caused me any problems whatsoever. And unlike short track, when I’d finish races with weird chills, I’ve been fine at the end of all my ‘cross races.
- Not eating a gel before a race. I did that this weekend at PIR, and I definitely felt weaker at the end of the race.
- Go balls to the wall in the first lap. I focused on this at Blind Date #3 and PIR. I think it worked better at Blind Date than it did at PIR, but the fields were also smaller.
- Ride the first lap like the third lap. This means be confident in all corners, in all off-camber sections. I’ve *tried* this, but I can’t say I’ve been successful with it.
- Run a low tire pressure. Done it. Love it. Felt great. Fabulous traction.
- Look up, not down, on a run-up. Silly thing, but I run way faster if I’m chasing someone. So I don’t look at my feet, I chase someone ahead of me.
- Shoulder the bike, rather than push it. I feel faster when I shoulder my bike. Pushing it always seems like a trudge.
Things I Will Try:
- Jump out of every corner. It’s just a few pedal strokes, you wimp! Do it!
- Ride my trainer at night. I have a kid, a wife, a full-time job, and 90-minute round-trip commute. I take long lunches already to ride 35 minutes on a spin bike 4x a week, and that’s pretty much ALL MY TRAINING since the end of July. I need more saddle time. If you need me, I’ll be in the garage. You know, after I put Lo to bed.
- Roll faster into the barriers. I’m sure my dentist is smiling at the notion.
- Last-second braking into the corners. We’ve been talking about this among the Muddy Iguanas, and it’s the reason Jimmy is getting some new brakes. Anyway, I’ll try it — I think the idea is to maximize the amount of time you’re going fast.
- To be happy for the opportunity to race. After a *really* great short-track season, I went into cyclocross thinking I’d be hot shit. I was wrong. I need to stop wallowing in what this season isn’t, and focus on the enjoyment of getting muddy and pushing my body hard.
Pingback: Final Blind Date Race Recap | Ow