Entries from August 29, 2010 - September 4, 2010
Bike fit
So much discussion about 'cross versus road fit. You can read a pretty lively discussion on this VeloNews article, which, I'll have to agree with Adam is pretty non-informative and potentially misleading to folks coming in to cross.
I'm not going to tell you how to get fit. You should absolutely see a professional to ensure you do not completely screw yourself up, yet the differences between your cross and road set ups should be demonstrable and designed to help you flow with the bike on a CROSS course (e.g., you're not a hill climb on pavement). For me, that means a seat height that is slightly lower and more forward than my road bike and bar position (specifically the hoods) higher for better control. The combo of the seat position (lower/forward) and the hoods gets my body in a position that feels like it has me in a nimble position to get around the bike, yet sort of naturally enforces my elbows to be properly bent and back comfortable yet 'driving forward' to ensure I am getting power to the pedals consistently for 60 minutes (there is no coasting in baseball...er, ah cross).
Anyways, while studying tapes last night, I saw this awesome example of positional dispariy between De Clercq, Nijs and Vervecken...three World Champions. You'll seen Sven looking very cross-classic...e.g. positionally high, Vervecken impossibly low....e.g., 'Euro Low' (seat way down and back lurched forward and finally De Clercq who is somewhere in between but with a road influence for sure.
Anyways, ensure you get a REAL fit this season to ratchet up your game!
Reconstruction
Being brought to failure and the repeating stresses we put on our bodies and minds the way we do is humbling. Yet we repeat these antics for we are driven. We are driven to do the best we can and not simply roll over and succumb.
So it was this weekend and the many weekend prior. Out with my training partners for the early part of this season prepping for cross. Webber, Hackworthy, Dubba, Overton, Robson, Spalding, Bortz and more. Team mates and suffer-mates all these last few months getting in the good and hard miles. 5-6lbs of body fluid lost on these rides as we traverse unbelievable Aspen-lined singletrack at 9,000 feet, climb 10% grades and just…suffer. Training in a way that keeps the smiles affixed, even as the kilojoules mount up.
I have to look at November and December. I have to look farther down the road. I have to remember the day I hit terra firma this summer and my forced rest that ensued. I have to listen to my mentors and truly hear them when they say “something has finally stopped you and will force you to push the high end out to where it needs to be…” This is not 2003 and picking off races is not possible with the pool of sharks we swim in on any given weekend here in CO. Fit now is suicide, so feeling generally bad is good on these rides. Not bad as in overtrained-bad, but that feeling when you are under significant load and your body instinctively knows the sharpened point of the pencil hasn't been ground in yet yet you can feel it in the distance. Leg speed is slower, the chain is still felt, yet you are happy.
I have my sport back in its compartment. Back under control. Leveraged to balance the rest of the seats on my three-sided teeter. This important leg keeps me alive, feeling inspired, that I can push as hard as ever.
The season is here.
Game on.
Steamboat Velo Cross!
My boys up in Steamboat Springs, Glen Light and Jon Cariveau of Moots, are helping us all get our cross on as early as can be in the beautiful and scenic resort town itself.
Reports from local hardman like the Michael "The Aussie who should have been the Belgian Tornado because I simply own the gutter on you" Robson say the course will be hard yet fun.
Glen sent me one spy photo. Video forthcoming: