cross

cross

Sunday, March 2, 2014

March snow

Today is March 2nd as I look outside it's snowing like crazy. Normally that would bum me out but since I can't ride outside it's not so bad. We can you use the moisture around here anyway since Kansas City is still behind on precipitation for the year. Even though the weather is up and down the spring races have started both here and in Europe. I watched Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and Kuurne Brussel Kuurne this weekend and the races were great. The streaming video quality was good and racing outstanding. After that I watched the Mellow Johhnys MTB race from Austin, TX. Unforunately that coverage was not so good but the commentary was pretty good. I know a few people racing but I only saw them a few times and I kinda bugged out after a while. I hope they get it together for the next race in a few weeks. In KC the Spring Fling went off Saturday before the weather went totally away. No snow but from the pictures I've seen it looks like it was really cold. Hopefully the weather will start to get better once we get past this block of cold weather.

Emily Batty at the Mellow Johnny's race. Cold was not a problem there, nearly 90 degrees. 

This is probably my favorite picture from the cross season. I think the moto berm action makes me wish I could ride that course.

The Bissel Develepoment Team at the start of their training Camp. Nice looking bikes and kits.

My friend Logan wrote a little something about bike racers on his blog. It's pretty good, you should read it. In gist of it is, as bike racers we are really all just a bunch of folks out riding bikes. Some are better at it than others but no matter how fast you are, there will come a point when someone will come along that is faster. What it takes to be the best involves so many factors that have to come together all at the same time. And that time never lasts that long. I know, I've been there in motocross and cycling. A time when you are fast, smooth, and nearly unbeatable. It's awesome, and then "poof", it's gone. As Logan said, the great ones figure it out. They are driven and they have the ability to simplify their lives to the basics and get the job done.

That's not my life and that's ok. I'm happy to compete with the guys my age and if I can hold my own in a Pro 1-2 field and help out my teammates that's even better.