Hoosier Hardmen Endure Arctic Conditions
- Zipp OVCX Tour Finals in Indianapolis by John G.
December 8, 2008Sub-freezing temperatures greeted the participants who braved the elements to contest the final Zipp Ohio Valley Cyclocross Tour event at Brookside Park in Indianapolis. Although the ground was snow covered in spots, icy in others with air temperatures hovering around 20°F, the racing action was anything but frigid. Brookside Park, host to summertime criterium races for more than 30 years, proved a tough opponent for those on 'cross bikes who had to navigate almost-frozen mud, icy pavement, and the infamous stair climb section.
As you can read in John G.’s race report at CYCLOCROSSWORLD.com, Sunday’s race was challenging. Yes the cold and icy conditions were very formidable; however, my greatest foe was my own stupidity! I arrived at Brookside with 90 minutes to recon the course and warm up just as I had planned. I was only racing two races this year. In my mind I had decided the first race in November would be a test/ practice race for Brookside. Well November’s race turned out to be a short lesson. A puncture in the early part of the race left me sidelined. So there was an increased sense of pressure in my mind to at least finish the Brookside race. Added to this pressure was the fact that two other BGI South Employees would be racing in my category.
Enough of this, back to my stupidity, everything was going as planned. I picked up my race number, went back to the car to get ready for my warm up run. I decided to run the course to help me warm up and to learn the course before I try it on the bike. I left my car and found my way down to the start/ finish area and started my run. About one quarter the way into the course I cautiously reached for my car keys in the back of my cycling jacket…my hand found nothing. I stopped in my tracks as my mind slowly wrapped it’s self around the fact that I just locked my keys and all my gear in my car! I ran back praying that I left a door unlocked. When I reached my car it was as I feared, everything was locked tight. I weighed the risk of calling my beautiful bride and kindly ask her to gather our brood of children in the van and race to the park and unlock my doors in the next 45 minutes. My kind wife said sure and got to the race with 2 minutes to spare. One of my co-workers at the shop set my bike up as I changed into my riding gear.
As the race to get ready in time was finishing, my real race was starting. I started in the back and we were off. Again my main goal was to finish. I had switched to a new tubeless tire system for this race. It allowed me to run lower PSI in my tires and hopefully give me better control. It worked great. The course was frozen and last year’s ruts were still quite real and ready to grab your tires and pull you out of bounds. As we entered the 1st off camber/ technical section I quickly found out that my tire selection was allowing me to navigate much better than those around me. I was able to quickly pass and distance myself from the back third of the field. The rest of the race was pure time trial mode. I was lacking in some power and fitness, however I was quite surprised at my technical skills. I was able to claw my way up to 14th out of 35 in my category. The race started 3 categories together for a total of 70 riders (I guess I placed between 19-25 for the total race). I was pleased. Best of all, I was the best placed BGI South Employee!
Props out to Nick for braving the cold and helping IC3 run the 9 and under race. We only had 4 enter, but the little guys enjoyed it.
12.10.2008
11.23.2008
11.16.2008
Fun in the Cold
You might have missed this in Velonews, but on Sunday, November 9th a once great cyclist, winner of countless road, mountain and cyclo-cross races made his comeback complete by competing in the Ohio Valley Cyclo-Cross race in Dayton, Oh.
The cold air only added the tension as I was called to my start grid. As I looked around, I started to remember the feeling of competition. My legs were twitching much like a cat as it readies to pounce on its unsuspecting prey. The ring of the gun vibrated off each of the 75 riders. I shot for the hole and made through the first 100 meters that included five 90 degree turns and one set of three barriers to be crossed without going down in a tangled mess of legs and gears. As I remounted after the first of two sand pit runs, I was in a strong 20th position. I was in perfect position to really flounder and lose 20 more spots, and so I did just that. I started falling back so fast, I swore I heard spectators calling me McCain.
Reality was setting in hard. What was I doing? I am a middle-aged man whose legs haven’t seen any type of hard training for several years. I was suffering like Governor Palin in a Katie Couric interview. I too had no life line. Then there was a sliver of hope, a small thorn made its way into my rear wheel and saved me the better part of the whole race. Yes, 1 ½ laps into the race and I flatted out! No worries, I will be back racing on December 7 at the Brookside Park Cyclo-Cross race in Indianapolis.
My two boys enjoyed the kid’s race as you can see from the pictures. I encourage you all to help with the race at Brookside Park .
The cold air only added the tension as I was called to my start grid. As I looked around, I started to remember the feeling of competition. My legs were twitching much like a cat as it readies to pounce on its unsuspecting prey. The ring of the gun vibrated off each of the 75 riders. I shot for the hole and made through the first 100 meters that included five 90 degree turns and one set of three barriers to be crossed without going down in a tangled mess of legs and gears. As I remounted after the first of two sand pit runs, I was in a strong 20th position. I was in perfect position to really flounder and lose 20 more spots, and so I did just that. I started falling back so fast, I swore I heard spectators calling me McCain.
Reality was setting in hard. What was I doing? I am a middle-aged man whose legs haven’t seen any type of hard training for several years. I was suffering like Governor Palin in a Katie Couric interview. I too had no life line. Then there was a sliver of hope, a small thorn made its way into my rear wheel and saved me the better part of the whole race. Yes, 1 ½ laps into the race and I flatted out! No worries, I will be back racing on December 7 at the Brookside Park Cyclo-Cross race in Indianapolis.
My two boys enjoyed the kid’s race as you can see from the pictures. I encourage you all to help with the race at Brookside Park .
10.08.2008
Theology
Matthew 22:37 (New International Version)
37Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'[a]
I was challenged by a student recently. I was asked why they should worry about theology. Their argument was based on three points.
1. Christianity is Spiritual and not intellectual.
2. I have a Pastor who teaches me what I need to know.
3. I could never begin to understand Theology.
Although this doesn’t surprise me, it does concern me. It is not an uncommon reality. We as humans often shirk our responsibility. Many people believe that if they don’t think about it and just follow, they are not responsible if it is wrong. I would rather have a Pastor tell me something and I believe it. If what he tells me is wrong, I can blame the pastor for miss leading me.
I also hear people often talk about Christianity being Spiritual and not intellectual. “I do not want to muck up what the Spirit tells me to do with all that religious stuff.” I agree our faith deepened with help of the Holy Spirit. I believe the Spirit leads us and guides us, but we must engage the Holy Spirit. We engage in this relationship with study, prayer and listening. We must spend time dwelling on our faith and the Bible’s teachings.
Theology is not hard to understand or study. Theology is simply studying and thinking about God. You do not need to use big words and fancy theories to do this, only your Bible. Sitting quietly reading and then thinking about what you read is Theology. Seeking guidance from the Holy Spirit and allowing it to stoke that passion for God that resides in all humans. God will reveal His Truths to you in a way that will benefit you.
37Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'[a]
I was challenged by a student recently. I was asked why they should worry about theology. Their argument was based on three points.
1. Christianity is Spiritual and not intellectual.
2. I have a Pastor who teaches me what I need to know.
3. I could never begin to understand Theology.
Although this doesn’t surprise me, it does concern me. It is not an uncommon reality. We as humans often shirk our responsibility. Many people believe that if they don’t think about it and just follow, they are not responsible if it is wrong. I would rather have a Pastor tell me something and I believe it. If what he tells me is wrong, I can blame the pastor for miss leading me.
I also hear people often talk about Christianity being Spiritual and not intellectual. “I do not want to muck up what the Spirit tells me to do with all that religious stuff.” I agree our faith deepened with help of the Holy Spirit. I believe the Spirit leads us and guides us, but we must engage the Holy Spirit. We engage in this relationship with study, prayer and listening. We must spend time dwelling on our faith and the Bible’s teachings.
Theology is not hard to understand or study. Theology is simply studying and thinking about God. You do not need to use big words and fancy theories to do this, only your Bible. Sitting quietly reading and then thinking about what you read is Theology. Seeking guidance from the Holy Spirit and allowing it to stoke that passion for God that resides in all humans. God will reveal His Truths to you in a way that will benefit you.
10.02.2008
Cold Morning
Cold, is the word today. I road to work this morning with the thermometer reading 45 degrees. The start was a bit chilly, so I emerged from my warm home with full leg bibs and a warm jacket. Now these were not my winter tights, but a set of light tights I have some how collected over the years. They were perfect, I did over dress on the upper torso I was sweating greatly before I reached the halfway point. Fortunately for good layering practices, all I needed to do was unzip slightly to help regulate my core temperature.
Today was a good day. My legs responded properly and I felt quite proud to be riding on such a cool morning. This combination helped transport me to that fluid state of mind that athletes describe as "In the Flow". What a blessing.
I look forward to my evening ride home!
Today was a good day. My legs responded properly and I felt quite proud to be riding on such a cool morning. This combination helped transport me to that fluid state of mind that athletes describe as "In the Flow". What a blessing.
I look forward to my evening ride home!
10.01.2008
Adventure
Life is an adventure, or at least if you make it one! One of my favorite quotes is from Teddy Roosevelt….
It is not the critic who counts, not the one who points out how the strong man stumbled or how the doer of deeds might have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred with sweat and dust and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, and spends himself in a worthy cause; who, if he wins, knows the triumph of high achievement; and who, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory or defeat.
Likewise, my Creator did not knit me together with a timid soul. He scooped down and created me in His image. Once he was finished molding me out of dirt, He breathed His Spirit into me and I breathed! He did not create me to be timid or void of passion, He created me to live and to worship Him through my life! So it is I live to do!
One of my deepest passions is for cycling. I enjoy every facet of the sport. When I am separated from it, my balance is off and I long for it. This year has been a challenge for me in this way. I have had little time to ride and indulge in my passion. However in the spirit of what I wrote above, I have found a new cycling outlet. I have been commuting to work steadily throughout the summer. Now that the nights are getting dark, I decided to invest in some high quality lights and continue to trek to and fro once or twice a week. I will admit my first night commuting home in total darkness, was no less than scary. I was on guard and nervous the whole ride, however I am now enjoying the ride home. The night is not scary, it is peaceful and I look forward to the quite solitude on the dark roads. I think my next step is trail riding at night.
I am also climbing into the ring to do battle with Cyclo-Cross racing. This is difficult due to my enormous, competitive spirit. Nothing frustrates me more than not being prepared for a race. I will have little time to train specifically for the races, but will focus on enjoying the moment.
If there is anyone interested in racing or just watching, you can hitch a ride. The first race is in Dayton, OH on Nov. 9.
It is not the critic who counts, not the one who points out how the strong man stumbled or how the doer of deeds might have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred with sweat and dust and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, and spends himself in a worthy cause; who, if he wins, knows the triumph of high achievement; and who, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory or defeat.
Likewise, my Creator did not knit me together with a timid soul. He scooped down and created me in His image. Once he was finished molding me out of dirt, He breathed His Spirit into me and I breathed! He did not create me to be timid or void of passion, He created me to live and to worship Him through my life! So it is I live to do!
One of my deepest passions is for cycling. I enjoy every facet of the sport. When I am separated from it, my balance is off and I long for it. This year has been a challenge for me in this way. I have had little time to ride and indulge in my passion. However in the spirit of what I wrote above, I have found a new cycling outlet. I have been commuting to work steadily throughout the summer. Now that the nights are getting dark, I decided to invest in some high quality lights and continue to trek to and fro once or twice a week. I will admit my first night commuting home in total darkness, was no less than scary. I was on guard and nervous the whole ride, however I am now enjoying the ride home. The night is not scary, it is peaceful and I look forward to the quite solitude on the dark roads. I think my next step is trail riding at night.
I am also climbing into the ring to do battle with Cyclo-Cross racing. This is difficult due to my enormous, competitive spirit. Nothing frustrates me more than not being prepared for a race. I will have little time to train specifically for the races, but will focus on enjoying the moment.
If there is anyone interested in racing or just watching, you can hitch a ride. The first race is in Dayton, OH on Nov. 9.
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