This morning it was cold. Very cold. My garmin said 53 degrees. Which, for a Californian, is verging on Arctic temperatures. Last night it was raining. And dark. Both days I rode my bike. Part of the reason I was able to find this motivation is that I recently finished reading Talent is Overrated by Geoff Colvin. This book has reinvigorated my drive to be a successful cyclist. While mainly directed toward business employees and managers, his concepts and ideas are applicable pursuit of any passion. He supports his argument through research on the concept of deliberate practice. According to Colvin, deliberate practice is designed specifically to improve performance, is endlessly repeatable, highly demanding and not very much fun. This is much different from putting your headphones in and spinning down the bike path without regard for cadence, HR, power or anything else. Though he allows that enjoyment definitely helps to improve motivation. People that desire to be the absolute best in their field, world class even, engage in deliberate practice for hours. Colvin supports Malcolm Gladwell's theory, proposed in Outliers, that 10,000 hours of practice are needed to achieve greatness in any field. I once did the calculations on this, and in order to ride 10,000 hours, averaging 10 hours a week (just to make the math easy ;) I would become a very good cyclist by the time I am around 50 years old. So watch out masters categories. I'm getting ready now.
I chose to write about this book because of the final chapter. To conclude his book, Colvin asks, What do you want? And what do you really believe?
What do you want? And what are you willing to give up in order to achieve that goal? The title of this post is taken from an example in the book of a gold medalist ice skater. Her goal, her all-consuming passion, was to win a gold medal. And in order to reach that goal she had to fall. Many, many times. On ice that is not forgiving. She had to wake up early, skip going out with her friends, skip the pizza, skip the beer, and engage in thousands of hours of deliberate practice. Colvin is clear, the path of deliberate practice is fraught with difficulties. Failed relationships, lonely evenings, isolation. Somehow, great performers find the motivation to persevere.
What do you really believe? Do you think that because you were not born with an innate gift, you cannot excel? After reading Colvin's book, be ready to examine that belief.
So, while the book emphasizes world class performers that started their practice before the age of five, the ideas and lessons can be applied to any pursuit at any age. I found it inspiring. Though I may not be an exceptional cyclist for many more years, every time that I get on the bike I am pursuing my goal.
Thursday, November 21, 2013
Monday, November 18, 2013
Women's Cycling is GHETO
Saturday presented the unique and rewarding opportunity of hearing and riding with several accomplished professional women cyclists. The Women's Cycling Association hosted a forum with some very well known cyclists telling their stories and offering suggestions to build equity in the sport. It was inspiring. Several had given up lucrative careers to pursue their dreams. They spanned all ages and all disciplines. After the forum the audience and the speakers rode from Winters to Davis, a beautiful, flat, country-style spin. I had the opportunity to chat up Emily Kachorek about her recent cross races and get super excited about racing at Lange Twins Winery on Sunday. She explained to me the UCI rules governing cyclocross starts. Basically you have to kick ass and get points to start without several rows of people in front of you. Tough. She also put the bug in my ear about LACX After Dark in a couple weeks. Hmmmmmm.
Then Sunday dawned clear and warm and cross ready. I recently joined TBBCX\GHETO cross team and Sunday was the first day all cross season that I got to have a team behind my name and a matching kit. Also my first day ever wearing a skinsuit. Gulp. I almost chickened out and wore the other black kit, but I figured I'd be going so fast (yeah right) no one would care what it looked like.
Unfortunately I was a complete mess from the moment I arrived at the course to the end of the grueling race. I knew it was going to be a difficult day when I didn't bring enough money to reg, forgot my bib number, had to go back to get pins and was debating about what kit to wear. Way too much going on. I finally got everything together and realized that pinning a number on a skinsuit is not something you can do in public. Jeez. Once I was pinned, and all happy and ready to go, my number was on upside down. All this mental distraction makes it really difficult to get prepped for a race, especially cross, where there is no time during the race to settle in. Somehow I managed to get to the start line with my shoes on the right feet and everything in order, but I had not had a good pre-ride. The course was loose, technical and there were fast women on the line, as always. Though I was intimidated and nervous, I was there to race and was going to Go Hard Every Time Out no matter what.
Well my GHETO acronym for the race turned out to be Go Headfirst into Every Turn On-course. The swoopy, loose section turned out to be trouble the second lap in. The above photo is taken right before I went down there, I know this because I am still clean. Thankfully there were plenty of hecklers on that corner to make it worth crashing. I figure if I'm going to go down, do it in front of an audience to improve bragging rights later. Before this crash I had been holding pretty good position, about 4th with 3rd in sight, but it took me a second to get up and I lost contact. The next time I came through I could hear the guys yelling, "slower, slower" Ha! never heard that from the hecklers before, they must have felt sorry for me. My plan to catch back on was to hammer in the straightaways on the back of the course and take those loose corners way way to hot. In the dirt again. This time was hard and it hurt. Took me a while to get back up and on the bike and my shifter was bent sideways. I whacked it and it started working but my rear brake was gone. My knee was bleeding, my thumb was swollen and my bike wasn't working. Ick. Way to indoctrinate a new kit, crash and burn. I managed to get the pedals turning and headed back on course. As I was struggling up the flyover, my friend Tony Troy gave me some great advice. He said, "Find it" I took it to heart. There was a cross racer somewhere inside my bruised up self and I was going to find it and finish the race. I kept that mantra for the rest of the race and didn't let anyone else pass me. The GHETO crew kept yelling at me to smile and give high fives. So I remembered that racing was fun. These are my friends on course and supporting me. I smiled and gave high fives and felt better. And actually, riding the course with only a front brake helped because I couldn't come into the corners too fast and was forced to be smooth. I've never been so happy to finish a race and position didn't even matter. Every race out I'm trying to learn to be smooth. Next time, no crashing.
As I was doing my laundry this morning I found that even my clothes know more about cross than I do:
The last line says, "AVOID CONTACT WITH ROUGH SURFACE" Well duh. I'll try next time.
Thanks for reading and please click on the highlighted links, they are great sites run by cool people.
Then Sunday dawned clear and warm and cross ready. I recently joined TBBCX\GHETO cross team and Sunday was the first day all cross season that I got to have a team behind my name and a matching kit. Also my first day ever wearing a skinsuit. Gulp. I almost chickened out and wore the other black kit, but I figured I'd be going so fast (yeah right) no one would care what it looked like.
Unfortunately I was a complete mess from the moment I arrived at the course to the end of the grueling race. I knew it was going to be a difficult day when I didn't bring enough money to reg, forgot my bib number, had to go back to get pins and was debating about what kit to wear. Way too much going on. I finally got everything together and realized that pinning a number on a skinsuit is not something you can do in public. Jeez. Once I was pinned, and all happy and ready to go, my number was on upside down. All this mental distraction makes it really difficult to get prepped for a race, especially cross, where there is no time during the race to settle in. Somehow I managed to get to the start line with my shoes on the right feet and everything in order, but I had not had a good pre-ride. The course was loose, technical and there were fast women on the line, as always. Though I was intimidated and nervous, I was there to race and was going to Go Hard Every Time Out no matter what.
Well my GHETO acronym for the race turned out to be Go Headfirst into Every Turn On-course. The swoopy, loose section turned out to be trouble the second lap in. The above photo is taken right before I went down there, I know this because I am still clean. Thankfully there were plenty of hecklers on that corner to make it worth crashing. I figure if I'm going to go down, do it in front of an audience to improve bragging rights later. Before this crash I had been holding pretty good position, about 4th with 3rd in sight, but it took me a second to get up and I lost contact. The next time I came through I could hear the guys yelling, "slower, slower" Ha! never heard that from the hecklers before, they must have felt sorry for me. My plan to catch back on was to hammer in the straightaways on the back of the course and take those loose corners way way to hot. In the dirt again. This time was hard and it hurt. Took me a while to get back up and on the bike and my shifter was bent sideways. I whacked it and it started working but my rear brake was gone. My knee was bleeding, my thumb was swollen and my bike wasn't working. Ick. Way to indoctrinate a new kit, crash and burn. I managed to get the pedals turning and headed back on course. As I was struggling up the flyover, my friend Tony Troy gave me some great advice. He said, "Find it" I took it to heart. There was a cross racer somewhere inside my bruised up self and I was going to find it and finish the race. I kept that mantra for the rest of the race and didn't let anyone else pass me. The GHETO crew kept yelling at me to smile and give high fives. So I remembered that racing was fun. These are my friends on course and supporting me. I smiled and gave high fives and felt better. And actually, riding the course with only a front brake helped because I couldn't come into the corners too fast and was forced to be smooth. I've never been so happy to finish a race and position didn't even matter. Every race out I'm trying to learn to be smooth. Next time, no crashing.
As I was doing my laundry this morning I found that even my clothes know more about cross than I do:
Thanks for reading and please click on the highlighted links, they are great sites run by cool people.
Tuesday, November 12, 2013
Lembi and Super Prestige
It's been an exciting two weeks of 'cross racing. First up was the classic Lembi Park race hosted by Sac CX, a great local race that has a special place in my heart. It was at this race two years ago that I was introduced into the world of bike racing. I was the person racing a mountain bike with tennis shoes. Here's the unfortunate proof:
I'm pretty sure it wasn't even cold that day, but that grimace is definitely a smile in disguise. Needless to say, I was hooked. I went to one more 'cross race that year, at Howard Park and then my first road and mtb races in the 2012 season.
This year was different. I have been recovering from (what I think was) a torn hip flexor, and have missed the most recent cross races. Also, I'm training hard for next years road season, so I haven't been going out to the park to practice dismounts and skills as often as I would have liked. None the less, I lined up with the stud women of the A class and got ready to have it handed to me. I only hoped Ellen wouldn't lap me, 'cause that would just be embarrassing. I started out of the gate hard. Way too hard. There was no way I could hold the pace and I started slowing down dramatically. I decided that instead of worrying about my placing, I would focus on skills and handling. Unlike all previous cross races, I was actually riding at a pretty good clip. So fast that I slid out around the hairpin before the run-up. This was actually exciting. To be going fast enough to slide out in a corner was huge. I was actually fit enough to fall! So cool. I finished the race with only one more minor mishap. One the second to last lap, I misjudged the timing for dismounting over the double barriers and my bike crashed into it. It whipped around and smashed me in the leg. I recovered, but the bruise was epic.
The best part of the racing local is the atmosphere and I was happy to hang out with the gheto.cx crew and heckle the elite men. So much fun.
Then the weekend after I headed down to Sierra Point to race Bay Area Super Prestige. This is the night race. The event of my cross season. So exciting. I even got a new pair of socks to rock.
They are so rad! ;) Best socks ever
I drove down with a fellow girl racer and the atmosphere when we got to the venue was just amazing. We could see the course lit up and the tape going pack and forth as we were driving up, there were racers warming up and the announcers over the PA. I was already excited and feeling the adrenaline. Unlike the Sac CX series, they don't let you warm-up on the course, but I had been there last year and knew what to expect, so I wasn't that bothered by only have ridden a half-lap before rolling up to the start line. Then I got placed into the grid. Ick. I have been following awesome racer Emily Kachorek as she races around the country and she talks about starting in last place. Now I finally understood. Here is her awesome website: #ghetomoto
I was last. Literally. There were 28 fit, competitive B women in front of me. The race started and it was a cluster. I had to use some mental strength not to get frustrated and still ride smooth. As my carpool partner knows, I get severely frustrated in traffic. Luckily there was a bit of a mud section that slowed some people up and I took the opportunity to shoulder my bike and run past a bunch of racers. I settled in and started to get familiar with the course and try to make up places. As I was riding past the heckle zone, I head some people start cheering for me! I was so excited! Some of the Sac crew was at the race and they were heckling away! There is nothing like having people to support you at the races. Nothing like it. I got a fresh wind and passed another racer. I was feeling good. There was one lap to go. I had no idea of my place, but I could see a racer in front of me. I decided to catch her. I made up some time up the stairs, but couldn't get clipped in after the ramp and lost a little space to her. Then we hit the kitty litter and I was on her wheel again. There was one more dirt section and then the finish. One chance left to pass her. I have big gears on my bike, down-shifted and came around her. When I hit the pavement, I gave it everything I had left so she wouldn't pass me. I finally crossed the line and my place didn't matter. I had a great race and gave it everything. I ended up on the podium (5th) and that was just the icing on the cake. All the people out there I talked to were so supportive and the great atmosphere made everything worth it. Especially the Sacramento crew. So much fun. That is why I race my bike.
Just a note: please click on the highlighted links. They are good websites run by good people.
I'm pretty sure it wasn't even cold that day, but that grimace is definitely a smile in disguise. Needless to say, I was hooked. I went to one more 'cross race that year, at Howard Park and then my first road and mtb races in the 2012 season.
This year was different. I have been recovering from (what I think was) a torn hip flexor, and have missed the most recent cross races. Also, I'm training hard for next years road season, so I haven't been going out to the park to practice dismounts and skills as often as I would have liked. None the less, I lined up with the stud women of the A class and got ready to have it handed to me. I only hoped Ellen wouldn't lap me, 'cause that would just be embarrassing. I started out of the gate hard. Way too hard. There was no way I could hold the pace and I started slowing down dramatically. I decided that instead of worrying about my placing, I would focus on skills and handling. Unlike all previous cross races, I was actually riding at a pretty good clip. So fast that I slid out around the hairpin before the run-up. This was actually exciting. To be going fast enough to slide out in a corner was huge. I was actually fit enough to fall! So cool. I finished the race with only one more minor mishap. One the second to last lap, I misjudged the timing for dismounting over the double barriers and my bike crashed into it. It whipped around and smashed me in the leg. I recovered, but the bruise was epic.
The best part of the racing local is the atmosphere and I was happy to hang out with the gheto.cx crew and heckle the elite men. So much fun.
Then the weekend after I headed down to Sierra Point to race Bay Area Super Prestige. This is the night race. The event of my cross season. So exciting. I even got a new pair of socks to rock.
They are so rad! ;) Best socks ever
I drove down with a fellow girl racer and the atmosphere when we got to the venue was just amazing. We could see the course lit up and the tape going pack and forth as we were driving up, there were racers warming up and the announcers over the PA. I was already excited and feeling the adrenaline. Unlike the Sac CX series, they don't let you warm-up on the course, but I had been there last year and knew what to expect, so I wasn't that bothered by only have ridden a half-lap before rolling up to the start line. Then I got placed into the grid. Ick. I have been following awesome racer Emily Kachorek as she races around the country and she talks about starting in last place. Now I finally understood. Here is her awesome website: #ghetomoto
I was last. Literally. There were 28 fit, competitive B women in front of me. The race started and it was a cluster. I had to use some mental strength not to get frustrated and still ride smooth. As my carpool partner knows, I get severely frustrated in traffic. Luckily there was a bit of a mud section that slowed some people up and I took the opportunity to shoulder my bike and run past a bunch of racers. I settled in and started to get familiar with the course and try to make up places. As I was riding past the heckle zone, I head some people start cheering for me! I was so excited! Some of the Sac crew was at the race and they were heckling away! There is nothing like having people to support you at the races. Nothing like it. I got a fresh wind and passed another racer. I was feeling good. There was one lap to go. I had no idea of my place, but I could see a racer in front of me. I decided to catch her. I made up some time up the stairs, but couldn't get clipped in after the ramp and lost a little space to her. Then we hit the kitty litter and I was on her wheel again. There was one more dirt section and then the finish. One chance left to pass her. I have big gears on my bike, down-shifted and came around her. When I hit the pavement, I gave it everything I had left so she wouldn't pass me. I finally crossed the line and my place didn't matter. I had a great race and gave it everything. I ended up on the podium (5th) and that was just the icing on the cake. All the people out there I talked to were so supportive and the great atmosphere made everything worth it. Especially the Sacramento crew. So much fun. That is why I race my bike.
Just a note: please click on the highlighted links. They are good websites run by good people.
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