Loading ...Susan Butler Tackles Endurance MTB at High Cascade 100
August 11th, 2010 Filed Under rider diary
Susan Butler trades 40 minutes for 9 hours at the Cascade 100. © Shane Young @ Oregon Velo
Portland Elite ’crosser Susan Butler brings us her report from the High Cascade 100, a 100 mile mountain bike race held on August 7th. Can’t wait to see you on the ’cross course, Susan!
by Sue Butler
With the impending cyclocross season just around the corner, I somehow thought it would be a good idea to do the extreme opposite and compete in a 100-mile mountain bike race. With no sponsor for the mountain bike season this year, riding for the most awesome bike shop, River City Bicycles, I was unable to afford the epic mountain bike stage races I love to do, so this was the next best thing. My husband and I call these “fun hating” events — you take something you love and do it until you hate it. …continue reading: Susan Butler Tackles Endurance MTB at High Cascade 100
Rider Diary: Vicki Thomas Gearing up for ’Cross
August 6th, 2010 Filed Under rider diary, the racer's view
Vicki Thomas can't wait to pin some numbers back on. Photo: Joscelin Ryan
Canadian Elite ’crosser and Cyclocross Magazine contributer Vicki Thomas checks in with us as our favorite time of year draws near. Mud on your mind, Vicki?
Wow, long time no talk! Guess this is what happens when the cyclocross season ends and the heat of the summer sets in. Well, it has been a long time coming, but finally cyclocross season is just around the corner. …continue reading: Rider Diary: Vicki Thomas Gearing up for ’Cross
Using a Coach and Enjoying the Ride – A Column by Lee Waldman
July 26th, 2010 Filed Under rider diary
Lee Waldman in the drops, working on skills in a short track MTB race © Annette Hayden, MountainMoonPhotography.com
Cyclocross Magazine columnist and Masters racer Lee Waldman has been using a coach, getting focused and learning to enjoy his racing. In case you missed it, go back and check out Lee’s previous column as he interviews his wife about being married to a racer.
by Lee Waldman
At 60 years of age, I know that I train harder than I did at 35. Harder may not be the right word – age does matter – smarter might be more accurate. Hard days are much harder and my easy days are much easier. I’ve learned the value of rest. What’s changed, you ask? I have a coach now. Yep, for the first time in 30 years of racing, I’m paying to be tortured rather than torturing myself indiscriminately. I hooked up with Ben Turner of Cycle-Smart. What a difference! If you’re on the fence like I was, believe me, coaching is worth the investment.
I’ve worked harder with more focus than ever before. There are days when it’s a major effort to simply walk into Starbuck’s. Who do I have to blame for that beside myself? Ben. …continue reading: Using a Coach and Enjoying the Ride – A Column by Lee Waldman
Married to the Bike? Masters Racer Lee Waldman Interviews His Wife
July 16th, 2010 Filed Under rider diary
Lee cleans up nicely for some time away from the cross course with his wife. Courtesy Lee Waldman
Cyclocross Magazine columnist and Masters racer Lee Waldman takes a look behind the scenes of bike racing life by interviewing his wife about being married to an obsessed cyclocrosser and mountain biker. In case you missed it, go back and check out Lee’s previous column as he analyzes Making Excuses and Smiling Like George.
by Lee Waldman
I love reading about Mark Legg and Katie Compton. He still races at a high level himself, but he’s there completely for Katie. And she gives him what he needs at the same time. It got me thinking about my marriage and bike racing. Even though we ride and train by ourselves, it takes a tremendous amount of support for those of us with real jobs to compete. Not just the physical support that gets us to the races every weekend either – the moral support is equally as important. It’s listening to us talk, ad nauseum, about the race last weekend, the race next weekend, the equipment that we need, the training schedule that we’re on, the weight that we need to lose, and on and on. It takes a ton of patience and, yes, a lot of love and respect to live with a bike racer. …continue reading: Married to the Bike? Masters Racer Lee Waldman Interviews His Wife
Race Report: Big Ring Rumpus Brings June ’Cross Category to New England
June 18th, 2010 Filed Under cyclocross news, rider diary
Let the Rumpus begin! Let the Rumpus begin! © Chip Baker
And Max said, “Let the Wild Rumpus begin!”
– Where the Wild Things Are
by Chip Baker
The ’cross gods are not of the the nice, gentle baby Jesus in golden fleece diapers variety from the movie Talladega Nights. They are angry, vengeful gods that punish the weak and extract retribution for even the most minor transgressions. I learned the hard way just how spiteful they can be. The ’cross alarm clock went off early in New England this year. Like really early. Our distant cousins in grime (i.e. mountain bikers) decided to invite us ’crossers to one of their parties. To be specific, EFTA (Eastern Fat Tire Association) added a cyclocross division to a new race on its calendar this season. Apparently they lost access to the singletrack at the venue where the race was scheduled. So instead of pulling up stakes and calling it a day, they had some fun with it. Thus was born the Big Ring Rumpus held in Auburn, NH, on June 6th. …continue reading: Race Report: Big Ring Rumpus Brings June ’Cross Category to New England
Bike Racing as a Vehicle for Giving Back – A Column by Lee Waldman
June 16th, 2010 Filed Under cyclocross news, rider diary
Lee knows well that life's about more than racing © Annette Hayden
Cyclocross Magazine columnist and Masters racer Lee Waldman takes a minute to reflect on the charmed life than many of us cyclists live, and ways in which we could give back. Call it altruism, or maybe it’s a selfish act in itself because helping others makes us feel good. We won’t settle that debate, but Waldman shares some of the things he does to improve his self-esteem and invites you to do the same. In case you missed it, go back and check out Lee’s previous column as he Relearns Old Lessons.
by Lee Waldman
It’s important, I think, to be more than someone who goes through life taking what others offer. I know that I always feel better when I’m able to not only accept the offerings of others, but can then also turn around and give something back in return. There are times when that can be a difficult concept for an athlete. To be good at anything, one needs to be relatively self-centered. That doesn’t necessarily mean selfish: simply self-aware.
As athletes we tend to spend the majority of our time taking things from others. We get massages to help our bodies recover from training stresses, and mechanics keep our machines running smoothly and prevent detrimental malfunctions. …continue reading: Bike Racing as a Vehicle for Giving Back – A Column by Lee Waldman
Dan Timmerman Retires – An Exclusive Interview
June 14th, 2010 Filed Under cyclocross news, interviews
Dan Timmerman on the start line of Nationals in Bend © Larry Rosa
We at Cyclocross Magazine were initially surprised that Dan Timmerman’s name was missing from the newly-announced 2010 roster of the Richard Sachs cyclocross team, but we figured that Timmerman, who has enjoyed a great deal of success at the top end of the sport the last several seasons and is a regular on the podium in the super-competitive New England region and beyond, had decided to ride for another squad. We were completely caught off guard when we learned that he had decided to hang up his cyclocross shoes and step back from bike racing all together. A recent Facebook status update confirmed it: “Dan Timmerman is no longer in a relationship with bike racing.”
Timmerman was never your typical bike racer although, as he told Cyclocross Magazine, he did his best to fit into the clean-cut roadie scene for a while. His talent can’t be denied, nor can his quest for a personal connection to the world – and to himself. Cyclocross Magazine caught up with Timmerman for this exclusive interview as he bids “adieu for now” to the bike racing world.
…continue reading: Dan Timmerman Retires – An Exclusive Interview
The Seasonal Cyclocross Tune Up and Rebuild
June 11th, 2010 Filed Under rider diary
Stripped and ready for the rebuild. © Jamie Mack
by Jamie Mack
The pile of parts laying on the workbench was, until 15 minutes ago, a very serviceable ’cross bike. Looking at the components strewn across the surface, I can’t help but be amazed, and a little concerned, at where I can get with a couple of Allen wrenches and a little too much free time. The annual tear down and rebuild of the ’cross bike is an important event in my shop, but rather than one etched on the calendar it’s often something done spur of the moment out of boredom or at the sudden appearance of some elusive spare time.
But the relaxed attitude I take in the approach to the work does not make it any less vital to success. …continue reading: The Seasonal Cyclocross Tune Up and Rebuild
Promoter Profile: Pirate Race Productions
June 4th, 2010 Filed Under interviews
Pirate Race Productions, a relative newcomer to race promotion, is starting to shake things up in the cyclocross community. Cyclocross Magazine recently spoke with Andrew Stackhouse, Managing Director of Pirate Race Productions, to discuss the making of a cyclocross promoter, how to provide value to race sponsors, and the growth of ‘cross in “emerging” markets.
CXM: Thanks for talking with us Andrew. How in the world did you become a race promoter?
Andrew: Well, I got into cycling in my mid-20s while rehabbing my knee from a skiing accident. I was working in management consulting and our offices shared the same venture capital as Derby Cycles, so I got a great deal on my first real bike, a Raleigh M-80. About a year later, I tried my first mountain bike race and, despite going over the bars and into an icy marsh, I was hooked. Several years later my wife and I relocated to Austin, Texas …continue reading: Promoter Profile: Pirate Race Productions
To the Short Track for Skills and Anaerobic Pain – A Column by Lee Waldman
May 29th, 2010 Filed Under cyclocross news, rider diary
Lee Waldman gets back to suffering, courtesy of short track MTB © Annette Hayden
Cyclocross Magazine columnist and Masters racer Lee Waldman ramps up the intensity, courtesy of a short track MTB race in Colorado. In case you missed it, go back and check out Lee’s previous column as he Relearns Old Lessons.
by Lee Waldman
It’s May. ’Cross season for most of us is still four months away. You might be racing on the road, or looking for the perfect “off-season” training regimen. Well, I can tell you: it’s short track mountain bike racing! By this time of the year I’m starting to feel the need for pain. It’s sick, but I need to suffer again in a way that I can’t on even the hardest training ride. I’m sure you know what I mean. …continue reading: To the Short Track for Skills and Anaerobic Pain – A Column by Lee Waldman
Rider Interview: JPow Discusses His Tour of California, Upcoming ’Cross Goals
May 26th, 2010 Filed Under cyclocross news, interviews
Jeremy Powers, shown here in control at Baystate Cyclocross, had an impressive Tour of California © Paul Weiss
Jeremy Powers, who races for Cannondale-Cyclocrossworld.com during the “real” season, just finished up an impressive eight days of racing with his Jelly Belly road squad. As we at Cyclocross Magazine documented in our Tour of California CX GC very unofficial rankings, Powers was joined by a slew of prominent cyclocrossers in the biggest road event in America – including former world champ Lars Boom, Chris Jones, Davide Frattini, the Jacques-Maynes brothers and 2008 Junior Worlds silver medalist Peter Sagan.
We tracked down Powers (aka JPow) the day after California wrapped up, as he was between flights in Chicago. He shed some light on his ToC experiences, and offers a look ahead at the rest of his road season and his 2010/2011 cyclocross plans. …continue reading: Rider Interview: JPow Discusses His Tour of California, Upcoming ’Cross Goals
A 50-mile MTB Race Reteaches Old Lessons – A Column by Lee Waldman
May 20th, 2010 Filed Under rider diary
Lee Waldman trucking along nicely - but the Bonk Monster is not far away © Annette Hayden
Cyclocross Magazine columnist and Masters racer Lee Waldman gets the chance to relearn basic lessons, courtesy of a 50-mile MTB race in Colorado. In case you missed it, go back and check out Lee’s previous column as he stays Motivated through Life’s Twists and Turns.
by Lee Waldman
You would think that after racing for as long as I have I wouldn’t make the same mistakes I made 30 years ago; that I know enough about the way my body works when stressed that I would go out of my way give it what it needs; that I wouldn’t start out a 50-mile mountain bike race without a full water bottle on my bike. You would think that … and you would be wrong.
I really did think that if I left my bottle with Corky, our shop sponsor who was wrenching for us, that I’d be able to keep myself hydrated. I really did think that I’d grab a bottle every lap. I guess I don’t know myself as well as I thought I did because, 20 miles into the race, I’d only taken one sip and that was as the beginning of the second lap. …continue reading: A 50-mile MTB Race Reteaches Old Lessons – A Column by Lee Waldman
Motivated through Life’s Twists and Turns – A Column by Lee Waldman
May 14th, 2010 Filed Under rider diary
Lee Waldman stays motivated through life's twists and turns © Annette Hayden
Cyclocross Magazine columnist and Masters racer Lee Waldman takes a moment to reflect on motivation in the face of uncooperative Colorado spring weather as well as what’s truly important in his life. In case you missed it, go back and check out Lee’s previous column, Age is a State of Mind.
by Lee Waldman
“There are places I remember all my life, though some have changed …” John, Paul, George and Ringo nailed it. People and places define our lives. They give meaning and purpose to everything we do. Without our memories, we would plod through our days, mindlessly placing one foot in front of the other. I’m not sure that’s effective in life, or in sport. The end result of simply putting in our time is mediocrity, and for me that’s unacceptable. I may not be the most gifted athlete in the world, but whatever limited abilities I have I’ll develop to their maximum potential. …continue reading: Motivated through Life’s Twists and Turns – A Column by Lee Waldman
Houffalize MTB World Cup – from a Crosser’s Eye
May 13th, 2010 Filed Under editorial, interviews
The Houffalize cross country course © Jonas Bruffaerts
Christine Vardaros continues to deliver cyclocross reports straight from Europe. Here she tracks the cyclocrossers’ impressive performances in the recent Houffalize MTB World Cup and gets exclusive interviews and updates along the way. If you missed her last article about her stage race win in Cyprus, check it out here.
“What the hell am I doing here, on the start line, standing next to Mary McConneloug … in front of the blinding lights from TV cameras and photo flashes,” I thought to myself as I stood in the second row surrounded by lycra-clad women at Houffalize Mountain Bike World Cup last Sunday. To make matters worse, I was standing there without a bike, feeling totally naked.
I was there to collect Mary’s jacket, not flashbacks from cyclocross season. But there I was – standing there with pre-race jitters. …continue reading: Houffalize MTB World Cup – from a Crosser’s Eye
Catching Up with Carl Decker – An Interview
May 11th, 2010 Filed Under interviews
Carl Decker and Adam Craig pilot "Wheels of Teal" through the national rally car circuit © Jim Culp/ProRallyPix.com
There was a familiar face toeing the line of a recent, local Oregon road race – Carl Decker (Giant) had made the trip to mix it up in Eugene-Roubaix. I took advantage of the opportunity to catch up with Decker and find out how his mountain bike season has been progressing and what his upcoming cyclocross plans might look like. We also discussed his impressive run of Super D wins (including recently putting some Euro World Cuppers in their place!) and his goal to get back to more road racing. Combine his MTB skills with road-worthy engine – he won Elite Nationals a few years back – and it’s no secret why he can hold his own against the best ‘crossers in the country. What may be more surprising is that he and his teammate Adam Craig are also making a serious run to the top of the leader board in the national Rally Car racing series in their “spare time.”
CXM: You mentioned you’re looking to do some more road events this year. What races do you have coming up? Why are you racing more road, think it’ll help your fitness or are you just digging it?
Carl Decker: This weekend I’ll be trying to win the Chainbreaker MTB race again for my mum on Mother’s day, and doing some local road race with an unfortunate name on Saturday. …continue reading: Catching Up with Carl Decker – An Interview
