Ice Cream!

For the third year going, I am traveling up to Le Mars, Iowa for the Frosty Cross races this weekend. This race is fun. The people who promote it are super cool and have put a lot of resources into designing a challenging course that features a flyover, and a 260' sand pit. The cash payouts are very good, and equally divided among men and women. And after it's all said and done, the local bike shop hosts an open house with a generous spread of goodies and libations for all.

On top of all that, Le Mars is the ice cream capital of the world, which of course means a trip to the Wells' Blue Bunny Ice Cream Parlor and Museum in downtown Le Mars. And for some reason, probably because it was funny the first time Lucas did it three years ago, imitating Forrest Gump saying ICE CREAM is also part of that tradition. Silly. But I would be lying to you if I denied chuckling to myself while typing that last sentence. 

The Scene:
The Trek Store Sprinter van is rolling down Central Ave in downtown Le Mars. Lucas, who up until this moment has been lurking quietly on Instagram in the van's second row, sits up, squares his shoulders, and begins to deadpan Forrest Gump's staccato southern accent.

Lucas:
The real nice thang 'bout the Frosty Cross Races in Le Mars Iowa is the ICE CREAM. After all the races, and the parties at the bicyle shop, we pile into the Trek Store Sprinter Van and drive over to the Wells Blue Bunny Ice Cream Parlor and Museum on Central Street in Le Mars Iowa. That's in downtown Le Mars, just off highway 75 in Plymouth County Iowa. 

Now the Blue Bunny Ice Cream Parlor and Museum has just about anything you could imagine you'd ever want to eat or drink, that is, if your diet is ice cream. They have over 40 diff'rent types of flavors, shakes and malts. And they have all sorts of toppings -- hot fudge, caramel, nuts, marshmallows and chopped up candies... shoot, they even have Mamma's favorite, the chocolate mudslide, which isn't at all like a box of chocolates, but nobody cares because it tastes so good. 

So anyway, being that I just finished the Frosty Cross races where number one, I burned 'bout a bazillion calories or something like that while riding that flyover and running that sandpit; and number two, I got more podium money in my pocket than Davy Crockett, I think I'll have me about 15 scoops of ice cream...

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Happy Friday. Thanks for reading

Five Is the Number

I need five races before Jingle Cross, which is only two weeks away.

The reason I need five races is because that's the minimum required to maintain a rating handicap. Having a rating before Jingle Cross is very important because it allows one to be seeded nearer to the front of huge fields. As of this writing, M45+ has 68 entries already. At eight across each row, not having a handicap could potentially land me in the 9th row.

Ieeeeeeee!

The good news is that I have a plan. Even better, it's already underway:
1) Complete ONE Iowa State Cyclocross weekend (DONE: 12th/49)
2) Complete TWO Nebraska State Cyclocross races this weekend
3) Complete TWO Frosty Cross races over Thanksgiving weekend

If all goes to plan, I'll have my FIVE qualifying races over the three weeks leading up to Jingle Cross.

Suddenly, my abbreviated cx season got way more interesting.

Here's another thing that will be fun to watch: because my 2014 races have not yet expired, I am currently pre-seeded as high as 7th place at Jingle. This ranking is based on five decent results at races at the end of last year. The outcome of the five races that I do in 2015 is anyone's guess. For one, I have to complete all five to even receive a ranking. That means no DNFs. For seconds, just one bad result among the next four can send me back several rows at Jingle Cross.

Ha! This is going to be fun.

There was a time earlier this fall when I almost stepped away from racing this season. I was in a different place physically, and mentally then. This is the first time that I've had to deal with that feeling. It would have been very easy to step away. Honestly, more than once, I was tempted to say to hell with it -- there would always be next season. I'm glad I didn't. If for nothing else, this experience has afforded me some understanding and empathy when others take time off for various reasons.

Well, I am back now, and I'm gunning for five strong showings. My bike is ready, my body is ready, and my mind is ready.

Now, excuse me while I apply a liberal amount of extra strength Whoop Ass.

Happy Friday. Thanks for reading.

Trade Secrets

I often listen to documentaries and such while doing household things. This past weekend, it was glass making from Steven Johnson's "How We Got to Now" (PBS). The gist of it was that a bunch of glass-making Turks came to Venice to escape persecution during the 13th century. Then they got stuck there because the Venetians liked their glass so much that they threatened death upon the Turks if they left. Wisely, the Turks decided to stay and settled on the island of Murano just off of Venice.

As a result, Murano became THE place for artisan glass makers. Over the next several hundred years, their close proximity on the island created a crucible in which their art was intensely refined and perfected.

Even today, Murano is still known for its glass making. A local artisan was interviewed. Interestingly, in spite of spending some 30 years at the furnace, he claimed that he learned more simply by listening to the older generation sharing trade secrets over drinks after work.

Last weekend, Harvest Racing had a team get together. It was mostly a social event with a little business mixed in. While I sat and listened to Mark, Kent and Shim talk about the local cycling scene, I couldn't help but think about that glass maker perfecting his craft just by listening to those with more experience.

Until this year, I have never been coached. What I know about cycling has come mostly through my own racing experience, and most of that has been attrition style of racing -- cyclocross and triathlon events. Team racing requires experience to do it well. Obviously, racing on the open road is a great place to learn that. But you can also learn an awful lot off the bike just by listening. I did this past weekend.

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After missing most of this cyclocross season, I've decided to make my return to racing this weekend. It's gonna be a doozy, too -- the Iowa State CX championship, and the field is going to be stacked. Wish me luck. I'll need it!

Happy Friday. Thanks for reading.

Mime Your Camera

Fred's wife is our real estate agent. Now that she's taken our house to the market, there have been a few questions along the way. For instance, after there were a couple of mid-day showings of our house today, Jill had texted me to ask how long the visits were. Since I was at work during the time, I replied that I had no idea. And since Katherine wasn't around either, that only left our dog Emmy to answer Jill's inquiry, and I told her so.

 Jill replied that it was a good idea (to ask Emmy) since she is warming up to her.

 Emmy's response was an instant classic:

The back story of 'Mime Your Camera' can be found here.

Shim's Rest Day (Vo2 Max Sessions)

This past week I did a brand new workout on my bicycle. I wish I could say it was from my coach, the Masters World Champion Mark Savery himself. But alas, it was not. This one came from my good old buddy, Shim, and it's a classic.

It goes like this.

Warm Up:
As you're spinning easy next to your cycling buddy, casually ask them what their workout plans are. Hopefully, they (Shim) will say it's their rest day. Now, Shim's rest days are anything but restful. Usually, sometime near the end of a five minute rollout, he becomes weary of the chit-chat and soft pedaling. That's when he goes rogue and makes up his own rest day workout. If he's had a good leg report, prepare to suffer.

Take the other day.

Brady: Hey Shim, what does Mark have you doing today?

Shim: It's Monday. I've got a rest day. I dunno, I'll probably just ride my bike.

Just ride my bike to Shim could mean anything -- an impromptu taco run, hitting the dirt trails on road bikes, or doing one of the hardest workouts you've ever done. Ever.

Main Set: Half Wheeling V02 Max Intervals
Allow Shim to settle into a pace just shy of a lactic acid threshold. Then, attempt to match his speed so you're riding directly next to him, side-by-side. As soon as your front wheels are parallel to each other, Shim will open up a small lead. This is called half-wheeling, where one's front wheel leads the other by a slim margin. What happens next is the key to this workout, so pay attention. Close that gap, so you're riding side-by-side once more. Now wait for it and watch as he slowly accelerates and opens another half wheel gap on you. Again, close it down to even it up. You won't have to wait long before he puts another half wheel on you. Close it down once more. Repeat, yada, yada, yada. This will continue until you've either run out of road or one of you has cracked.

Cool Down
After running out of road (one of you has cracked), you'll eventually catch your breath while spinning at a true rest day pace. Mind you, Shim will still be half wheeling you, but you're past caring anymore. Anyway, use this time to casually ask your cycling buddy what the hell that was all about.

Brady: "What the hell was that all about?"

Shim: "What was what about?"

Brady: "That half-wheeling?"

Shim: Half wheeling? Who was half wheeling?

Brady: Remain silent while rolling your eyes behind your sunglasses.

Shim: I wasn't half wheeling. And what got into you? Why were you being so competitive? I thought we were on a rest day. I was just riding my bike...

Yeah pretty good.

Thanks for reading. Happy Friday.