Google Alerts picks up lots of tidbits for me. Especially the roughly 40 variants of keywords I have set for “cyclocross.” So without fail, my alert discovered that Joe Friel, author of The Training Bible, had taken the time to write an article  on the TrainingPeaks blog about cyclocross! Should you race cyclocross? Hell yeah! And here is Joe himself to profess the merits of our sport. 

Cut to the chase: the blog post…not a testament offering what I hoped would be evangelical prose on racing the beautiful sport.

The brief blog post talks about how taking on a full load of cross in the winter…and along with it blowing-up your body’s stress index…is detrimental to goals you may have in the spring and summer on the road and mountain bike. Honestly: fair enough. I’m not a kinesiologist or exercise physiologist, nor do I play one on TV. I leave that level of planning and timing performance peaks to the pros like Joe. But there are massive tidbits of value on the subject that were glossed over by Joe in his post. Let e try to articulate that without sounding like a knob…

a) On Type A++’ers: I think Joe’s post is right. I think it is an accurate and critical assessment that cross can nuke certain goals. And thus if you are an inordinately driven soul, driven to compete from early bird crits in January to the various road and crit championships in late summer and fall with teeth clenched race after race, then indeed skip cross. The post to me was angled towards a specific breed of person that I think would stress over this ‘heavy decision’ to race cross and likely will heed Joe’s advice. And maybe I’m speaking about folks coming back to fitness after long respite…and they need this level of guidance to be told to skip racing ’everything’ that allows you to pin on a number. The Type A++’er who is going to get it on no matter what, no matter where. The post is absolutely responsible in this light. Joe’s giving you a warning if you fit this demographic.

b) Cross *is* a Focused-upon Season now: The post neglected a massive movement in the industry and in racing. It’s something called cyclocross. I am not sure if Joe is not intimate with ‘cross or the folks now dedicating themselves to it….but cross is a full season raced from September to January, weekend in and out (both days) for that entire period and is the soul focus (and joy) of it’s dedicated participants. It’s not this obscure ‘training season’ any longer for masses of racers (1,600 racers in Portland in ONE WEEKEND last year!). It’s exactly why I haven’t pinned a number on my back to do a crit or a road race in more than two years given my need to preserve my flesh (due to a whole lot of Type A++ folks with little experience in pack riding who tend to make the dominoes fall consistently) and frankly not over cook my old bones before the beautiful season starts. It also precludes all of my favorite people in racing who have, like me, abandoned road and crit racing due to family and job commitments and the fact it just ain’t fun. I’d love to have heard a shout out on this in Joe’s post…or maybe see a subsequent post on how to ramp up effectively for ‘cross.

c) What happened to fun?: So I mention it a bit above: FUN. Competition and goal setting is important to success. It sets milestones you aim for to see, feel and gain improvement in your sport (or family life or business life, or relationships….etc). But ‘cross. Oh, ‘cross she is so fun. She is liberating and cathartic. What Joe missed the point completely on how doing cross can fundamentally re-charge mental batteries on a long road or MTB season and re-galvanize why we ride bikes let alone pin a number on while riding bikes. There’s time to purge demons from your soul by riding until your eyes bleed and slaying your nemeses in your local Cat 35+4 race. But for the masses racing cross, it’s about communing with friends, celebrating the gear and making each lap smooth. The culture is what we have made it and at its core is about the fun. 

So Joe’s post was a interesting one for me and I hope my points are clear. Should you race ‘cross? Remember this face when you are faced with crossing that chasm. You will find the answer.

It was like 6:25 this AM as I threw on the ‘backback-o-barriers’ and took my sluggish, half-sleepy, non-‘morning meeting’ body (you all know what the morning is right?) down to Amante. I was convinced it’d be me and maybe two other hard cores out there beating the snot out of each other in these pre-season days.

And then…like a mirage…as I rolled into the meet-up spot, my peeps were all there. Laid out in front of me. Family. Nearly 30 of us there today…the hard workin’ stiffs who need the juice before going into the coal mines for the day. The excitement was in the air….conversations of gear, re-uniting with friends haven’t seen since last season. Cross is here and the people need their cross.

We hit up Elks for a couple of deep sessions. The engine felt pretty damn good and the early morning training is he;ping out a lot. My body is fresher and I am getting a much higher quality depth in the legs than years prior.

Oh, and the equipment dudes are rolling on this year: unbelievable. People have their cross machines DIALED in. For many, it is their pride and joy of the stable. Sound familiar?

Digital celluloid:

We all had sleep in our eyes…

One of MANY Ridley’s out there. WAY more than I’ve seen in year’s past.

Part of the crew…along with another variant of the port-o-barriers!

DK

The Working Man’s Crew.

Brian’s Ibis. It has gold bottle mount bolts.

More carbon bling. The Time Cross Machine.

Ridley X-Fire Exhibit A

Ridley X-Fire Exhibit B

Ridley X-Night Exhibits A and B. Boing!

Ironically, the Working Man’s Wednesday Worlds intersected with a long standing Wednesday AM road group ride…and my man and boss-man Walter Knapp is part of that throw down. Note he sponsored this RAD Panache kit (see the Lijit Logos??).

And LASTLY, spotted in the Back Woods of Maine. One of the woodsman up there was spotted in an M & C lid!

I LOVE it! readers like my hombre Steve are proudly rocking the M & C goodness. Says Steve:

“First I did nonsensical intervals that combined deep grass, practice starts and running. Then I bought chili cheese fritos, a Monster energy drink and an awesome cx hat. Mix it all together, throw in some Deftones on the headphones, and somehow it's working out just right. Thanks for making a great website.”

This defines the Mud and Cowbells experience.

Lots of activity in Boulder as it relates to Junior Cycling Programs!  I received this notice from Mike Eubank for a meet-up at Boulder Cycle Sport to kick off the Boulder Junior Cycling program.

Mike says…

Boulder Junior Cycling Cyclocross Team Meeting Thursday, August 27th 6-7PM at Boulder Cycle Sport; 4580 Broadway St, Boulder, CO 80304 Get information on joining the new Boulder Junior Cycling Cyclocross Team. Meet the USA Certified Coaches who will train with juniors twice a week during the season beginning in September. Team open to junior athletes in 5th - 9th grade. $395 coaching fee includes racing jersey, more info at http://www.boulderjuniorcyling.org/

But wait! There’s more! In addition to the Boulder Junior Cycling Program above, there is an absolutely FREE program. Check THIS out moms and dads! Says Mike again…

“Middle Cross” is in our second year and we are hoping to attract 5-7 middle schools this season.  We are receiving commitments from schools and bike clubs before the season starts in September.  If a school, teacher or parent wants to be involved they should contact me ASAP, or if they have a contact at one of the schools that they know would be interested, I’ll contact them.  We are offering free clinics with Ben Turner and his group of coaches and junior CX riders.  We will also be looking for CX mentors to help each school practice after their clinics to prepare for school to school scrimmages as well as the final ‘all school’ race on Nov 11 at Manhattan.”

SWEET! Here’s the flyer for that program. Boulder kicks ass with support from people like Mike Eubank and Ben Turner.

Bike one moments after she was all done up and built. I cruised 'er around Elks and thus the lovely sweat stain smack dab in the middle of my chest. Sweet. Check out more bike p(o)rn videos on Boulder Cycle Sport's YouTube channel. 

Such great news today here in Coloradee. My man Mark Legg-Compton sent me an email with the press release you see below. Katie got her ride! Katie’s race resume is now legend, but Mark is one fast mo fo too having traded paint with him in many a master’s and elite race here at altitude. I speak from experience. I love seeing his name when I watch old ‘Cross Worlds DVD’s. The Compton’s are crossilific.

Another super interesting aspect is that she'll be rocking a RAD frame for this season. It is safe to say that the bike is FAST. Just ask the Lil' Prince what carried him to the stripes in Hoogerheide. The rubber will also be pristine. Mark will let the world know about these changes soon...

Have a read of the press release below. She and Page make up a sick elite duo brining some American hup hup to the Euros. Bring it, Katie and JP!

Madison, Wisc.- August 20, 2009 - Planet Bike, a leading manufacturer of innovative, high quality, and practical bicycle accessories, is excited to announce that Katie Compton is the newest addition to Planet Bike’s 2009/10 cyclocross team.

Compton is a five time U.S. National Cyclocross Champion, and last season captured the Bronze medal at the Hoogerheide World Cyclocross Championship with an aggressive ride to secure her second Cyclocross World Championship medal.  "I'm really excited to be representing Plant Bike this season," said Compton. . "Planet Bike is a great company and I am looking forward to teaming up with elite riders like Jonathan Page .”

"It is an absolute dream come true for us to have two of the best cyclocrossers in US history in Compton and Page riding for our small company. Besides being outstanding riders, both Katie and JP are quality people who are very representative of the Planet Bike philosophy of hard work and doing things the right way," stated Planet Bike's founder Bob Downs.

Compton will race primarily in Europe competing in all of the rounds of the World Cup.  On January 31, 2010, will be chasing after the rainbow stripes at the World Championships in the Czech Republic. "I really feel it's within my reach.  After two close calls I'm hoping for rain  or snow and going all out for the win," says Compton who excels when the heavens open up turning courses into epic cyclocross contests.

Compton starts the season in her new team colors and new equipment sponsors at the upcoming Cross Vegas where Compton will look to defend her title. "It's going to be an epic race in Vegas. I'm very motivated to start the season off with a good result representing Planet Bike." Compton will then fly to Madison to ride in the Planet Bike sponsored USGP event on September 26-27.

Planet Bike builds high quality bicycle accessories that make it easier for people to ride their bikes. Since its inception in 1996, Planet Bike has believed in the potential of the bicycle to improve the world and the lives of the people in it. Therefore, each year it has donated at least 25% of profits to causes that promote and facilitate the use of the bicycle. By the end of 2009, Planet Bike will have donated $1 million the grassroots advocacy movement.