Is it really October?

WTF? It is supposed to be 80°F here today? Insane.

And people don't want to extend the cross season into January.

*shaking head*

Yall New Englanders? Or yall bunch of Florida Pansies?

I lamented that the PacNW was getting all the awesome cross weather, cool, wet, rain, this morning having my quad espresso (just a touch of sugar, all paris style and sh!t) and my wife said she would hate it, citing that she would be depressed and sad all the time. That's a perfectly normal and expected reaction. But ya see, i grew up with that stuff. When it gets cool overcast and "dreary" i feed off that. I perk up, i revel in that weather. It is like going home, that feeling of comfort/familiarity. S'okay, New Belgium ain't a bad place.

Should be an interesting weekend. We'll see if i can keep the batteries topped off going into Jamestown. Honestly i'm pretty geeked. We've got a team heading there. As in lots of guys in the same jersey in the same race, in a race where team mates can be pretty helpful. I'm also looking forward to working in a supporting roll. No pressure to finish, laying it out on the line for who ever we decided is our designated hitter. Besides. a good 40 mile road race should help prep the legs for the Glawster race. Nothing like intensity leading up. And seein as the only riding i might even get a chance to do will be on the trainer, i might have some fresh legs to drag a team mate around. Here's to hoping we get wicked strong winds or something equally hard core.

Now Colin brings up the trackstand thing.

So, cross is about skills right? Road race starts aren't that important, crits, same. Cross? Start is everything.

How do you practice starts on a daily basis on your commute?

DON'T TRACKSTAND.

Unclip. Stop. Pretend ya are at the line, as a Killer B with Lynne sitting there next to you. you HAVE to do this smooth if you want to impress her (see, ya KNOW that's how Tim managed the hook up). Pedal up. Power foot clipped in. GO.

Don't trackstand and look like that first guy.

Just like dismounting and running, starts are about how well conditioned you are at getting into the pedals.

There should NEVER be an instance of "where's the bloody pedal, i can't clip in"

"But I race Track"

The deal breaker for that comes from a Cat1/2 track racer. When was the last time you did a track stand in a race? It is pure heresay coming from me but he says it don't happen no more. So, roadies, crossers. Stop doing the track stand. You aren't impressing the motorists. They barely see you. The Beautiful Godzilla is too wrapped up with texting while riding her color coordinated 3 speed in her $900 boots to notice your skills. The messengers can all do it better than you. Just unclip and wait.

Chalk it up to cross clinic.

And to end on a food note (i'm hungry):
Go weigh in over at Frank's. Honestly i dunno. Pizza ranks up there but i think a good complex burrito would be pretty high. DAmnit. now i'm really hungry.

But temper that hunger with a feeling of powerful and true words.
Feltslave is a giant among us. He is a true hero of this earth. A role model for all. I was honored to share the spot on the wall chatting with him and his girls at Sucker Brook. I feel genuinely blessed to have friends like him and the rest of yall. Reading Felt's words gave me the chills... goosebumps and i immediately forgot about being hungry.

Smile, thank someone, do something nice unexpectedly for some random person. Generate positive energy and joy. It is amazing how small of a thing can see joy and happiness.

Make someone's day...
peace
G