Bookwalter makes the big show

Velonews just announced Brent Bookwalter will be riding in the Tour de France this year.  After a great showing at the Giro he'll be lining it up with some of the biggest and best names in cycling.  Much, much respect...

Alessandro Ballan (ITA)

Brent Bookwalter (USA)

Marcus Burghardt (GER)

Cadel Evans (AUS)

Mathias Frank (SUI)

George Hincapie (USA)

Karsten Kroon (NED)

Steve Morabito (SUI)

Mauro Santambrogio (ITA)

UCI Adapts

Much to the chagrin of Adam Meyerson, probably the most outspoken U.S. racer on the topic of disc brakes in 'cross, the UCI made the decision to allow them in international competition.  More on the story from Cyclocross Magazine HERE.

And on a completely unrelated note, it is NOT a good idea for me to buy these cookies anymore.  Leave it to me - the one time I'm out shopping for groceries alone and I come back with horribly addicting sugar cookies...

New 'Cross Venue x 2!

Sounds like there will be another new 'cross race on the books for the fall.  I'll keep a lid on things until it becomes official, but between Tailwind's new venue and this new race it will be a refreshing fall.  From what I know it'll be a mix of Tailwind's formal style and the fresh, fun Kiss Cross approach to racing.  Here's a hint...

SS

What a fun bike.

The Hills

So apparently I am in need of new hamstrings, as mine are shot. Ten minutes into lap two (of three lap race) my legs decided that I shouldn't ride with the three other leaders anymore. Lungs? Just fine. Snappyness? No worries. Sustained power? Nonexistent. It took me about three minutes just to be able to walk back to the car. Ugh.

In other news, Cyclocross Magazine sent this little reminder that 'cross season is not too far off of the horizon!

This is a new one

Crux on CX Mag

Preview of the new 'cross race-specific bikes from Specialized on CX MAGAZINE!

Ugh...

It's only been hot for a few days but I'm ready for the cool breezes and cowbells of October already.

Brighton Day 2 and Final Results

This past weekend turned out to be a great few days of bike racing.  On Saturday we took to the Torn Shirt loop for a time trial before heading onto the freshly mowed field for the short track event.  The Torn Shirt loop was short, and in only my third lap the Stumpjumper Comp 29'er rolled nicely into second place.  With only 65 seconds separating the top five in the Expert 19-29 class, I was looking forward to the short track event.

There was a distinct camp of 'cross racers present itching to roll out the 'cx rigs for an early season test.  I was no different and planned on racing the Tricross for the 7-lap short track race.  The Elites and Experts all started together, and there were more than a few mishaps on the 0.8 mile course.  I drilled it as hard as I could for the 21-minute race, just missing the selection at the back of the elite group.  I rolled into the finishing loop in first place, taking back about 15 seconds on my deficit for the series total.

Today the weather was once again great and I was prepared to take to the Murray Lake trail for the longer XC race.  Kristie joined me which was awesome.  I ended up taking one bottle hand up today from her, which was pretty key.  The Experts were slated for four laps, and they would all prove to be difficult.  Going into the race I figured I needed about 25 seconds on first place in order to take the overall stage race title.  I knew this would be difficult after leading the first lap, unable to shake the top five in the "GC".  Going into lap two I was unable to follow an attack from the race leader, and a fresh pair of legs took the opportunity to join him off the front.

Laps two and three were about equally difficult, knowing the race was leaving in front of me and I needed to defend second place at that point.  But towards the end of lap three I started to notice a few chinks in the armor of my pursuers, which I planned on exploiting in the last lap.

I dug hard going into the last lap, trying to take as much time on the gravel road parts of the course.  I tried my best to be smooth in the singletrack, but with only one lap prior to the race I was still learning the course on the last lap.  And then, with about 4 miles to go in the race, I saw the series leader going backwards up the trail!  My chasers were slightly gapped off the back, but were chasing hard.  It wasn't long before I swept him up, and just over my shoulder I could see the others closing in.  After 29.5 miles of racing, the series contenders were all back together again, with first place for the XC race up the trail!

I dug hard on a slightly downhill, fast section of trail.  I knew it would be a great place for me to put in some time, as it was the same spot that I gapped my pursuers on lap 3.  I had a pretty good gap going when, with 1.5 miles to go, my legs started cramping.  I did my best to ride through it but my right hamstring was consistently contracting hard every pedal stroke.  I relaxed a bit, stretched, and spun a slightly easier gear, fearing I'd have four guys breathing down my neck in no time.  This race couldn't end fast enough!

I saw the gravel road and rode as hard as I could over the chatter bumps.  Just before rolling up into the park, I glanced over my shoulder and saw the group leaving the woods behind me.  I crossed the line in 2nd, absolutely gassed, but hoping I took enough time to gain the series lead.

In the end I was only about four seconds shy, which frustrates me because it's only FOUR SECONDS!  But then I think about the past three races and know I couldn't have gone any harder, which I guess is a bit of a reassuring measure.  The 29'er definitely helped in making the trail a bit more forgivable, as the drops and chatter-filled descents were challenging all weekend.  It was also great to get the Tricross out yesterday.  If I could have one bike and one bike only, I'd pick the Tricross hands down.

Rust Shaker in the news

The Morning Sun did a brief article here about this year's Rust Shaker.  Now that the rust is shaken off we'll see how the rest of the race season goes!

New 'Cross Venue

Do YOU know where Tailwind's new venue is for 2010?  Robert does...

Island Lake Demo Day

Yesterday Mike, Little Chris, and I went North from Mt. Pleasant and ventured into some seriously unpopulated areas.  60 miles later we climbed l'alpe de Mt. P and rolled back into town.  Fun ride on some new roads, to me.

This Saturday is the Island Lake Demo Day, which should be a lot of fun again as long as it doesn't rain quite so much this time around.  I'll be at the Specialized trailer helping out as needed, so stop by and say hi.

Nationals and Masters Worlds

Read about the change in protol proposed for nationals and the master's world chamiponships on  CYCLOCROSS MAGAZINE.

A small group of about a dozen promoters made the trek to a snowy Colorado Springs this weekend to have what USA Cycling described as an “open dialogue”  to discuss the future of cyclocross. Topics on the table included making decisions on adding qualification time trials to determine start position to the Cyclocross National Championships, qualification races for the 2012 Masters Cyclocross World Championships in Louisville and whether Nationals would be moved to January.

...(continued)

A glowing review...

Leonard Zinn apparently likes the new Sram Apex group, as he details on Velonews.

The PG-1050 cogset is available in 11-23, 11-26, 11-28, and 11-32.  I'll put money on seeing the Apex as the new gold standard for budget-minded 'cross rigs, both from the factory and from the basement workbench.

MMCC Rust Shaker

4th out of 14 starters in the Pro/Expert category today.  Even managed to take home some cold hard cash and a pair of gloves for Kristie (from the raffle).  Mike Seaman represented big time after a HUGE volume week in Kentucky by topping the Vet 40+ category.

Singletrack was the flavor of the day...

Paul Rytlewski made the trip just to get the pizza afterwards.

Photos courtesy of Kristie, who even found time to play with Kona.

Somehow my sponsor was left off of the list...I bet you can guess what was supposed to go there.

Paris Roubiax?

My top three.  Hopefully I can pick the winner like last week...

Big George finally learns that 44k out is NOT too early to attack/follow if you want to take home the big cobble trophy...

Breschel earns a favor or good luck from Cancellara but loses in the sprint to GH...

And Boonen realizes he's bitten off too much and fades for the final sprint, unable to match the accelerations of the two fresher racers...

Look for live coverage on www.cyclingfans.com Sunday morning!

Ithaca and Flanders

First, the Jailhouse trail in Ithaca was in awesome shape as of last night.  We'll see how this rain changes things, but it rocked.  A few locals even put in a teeter-totter as in North Shore-type stunts.  Looks like there will be a reroute around the two-track to finish up the loop as well.  It runs along the SE side of the track and hopefully is high enough to stay dry.

Kristie and I went out for a lap; her first time on the MTB this year.  She loves twisty mtb courses, and Ithaca pretty much fits the bill.

As for tomorrow at Flanders, here is my top three:

1) Fabian wins by this much...

2) Devolder nearly misses out

3) Hincapie jumps into third

Come on, George...

Sugoi Review

On 'cx magazine...

BRX on CXMAG

Barry-Roubaix race report HERE.

BRX

15th out of 24 in the expert singlespeed class yesterday at Barry-Roubaix.  Definitely not where I had hoped to end up, but it was a fun day regardless.  After the slightly sketchy neutral roll out by the Sheriff things really started to heat up quickly.  Geared bikes had a significant advantage on the downhills but the uphills made everyone hurt.

Four of the argyle army rode with one gear today, and I was in pretty good position after the two-track demolished the field.  32 minutes into the race and it was hard.  Wiz was up front early on, and Mike Seaman ended up passing me shortly after the two-track.  Apparently I was a bit gassed, as shortly after a small gap opened up that I wasn't able to close.  34 minutes into the race.  Big Wayne Cook rolled up and said, "JB we have to close that gap!"  We traded pulls for a short while.  35 minutes into the race.  Man, time is going SLOW and this hurts.  36 minutes in.  Some geared guy rolls up to us as we have the gap at around 20 meters to Seaman's group.  37 minutes in and the group ahead turns left onto another dusty dirt road.  Wayne rolls by once again and says (more emphatically this time...), "JB, we MUST close that gap!"  39 minutes and it has felt like an eternity since we got out of the two track and onto dirt roads.

Pow...there goes the rip cord.  Wayne rolls away and group after group seem to ride right by without difficulty.  Survival mode came earlier than expected.  Rolling hill after rolling hill, left turn, right turn, up, down, Barry-Roubaix was destroying me.  One climb in particular was the site of riders walking their bikes at the top...I told myself I would NOT get off and walk.  7 mph, 6 mph, 5 mph...grind, grind, grind.  I must have been all over the bike but I made it.  One small step for JB, one giant leap for SS kind.

The paved road back to the parking lot was fortunately mostly downhill.  Even so, within the last mile I was passed by two others with one gear but I was unable to manage even the slightest elevation in pace at that point.  Crossed the line in 2:04 and change, happy to be done but absolutely gassed.

Rick put on an awesome race and I can see this getting absolutely HUGE.  Look for a write up on www.cxmagazine.com shortly.