Road and Cross

I've submitted a resume to USA cycling for my Cat3 upgrade. I have 17 points (supposed to have 20), but with the races I've done I hope to get it. I would love to do some Cat3 races before the season is over...maybe even try my hand at a few 1,2,3 races. I still haven't heard back yet, and should probably just aim at getting my last three points.

Since I haven't heard back, I'll be heading down to Fork Shoals, SC tomorrow morning (yes leaving the apartment before 6am again) and doing the SC state road race. Luckily its an open road race so that out of state riders can compete. This course is part of the Greenville Spring Series, although I haven't ridden it. On MapMyRide it looks almost pancake flat, I kind of wish it had a hill or two in it. It should be a good race.

The last time I was down there racing with those guys from Greenville it was some of the hardest racing I've ever done. Not that the races in VA and Tenn aren't good quality, but something about the races in the carolinas that really try your fitness. I've noticed with my PT that I'll have a higher wattage for the sprint in the Tenn/VA races, but my wattage for the last 10-20 min of the race would be higher for the Carolina races which shows how there are a bunch of guys that want to win and not just sprint at the end(overall power is higher for the carolina races as well). I look forward to racing around Greenville more than probably anywhere else I've raced to this point.

With mentioning of trying your fitness, I feel like mine is coming back around really nicely. I've been hammering out my 20min intervals religiously, and I can tell its made a huge difference. My confidence is back, and I feel that extra little something in my legs while I'm riding. Tomorrow should give me a really good idea of where I'm at. And assuming no bad luck, I hope to see that I'm ready for an upgrade that I've been talking about so much.

Knobby tires. Man I am excited about cross. I finally got my tires glued on and took the bike out for a test run around the apartment. They feel sick. I'm running 30psi in the front and around 33 in the rear. With that pressure it feels like you're riding on smooth road.......ok not really, but its smooth. I'd like to try to drop the pressure a little more, but I'm a big guy so I don't know how much farther I can go.

Speaking of knobbies. I'm thinking about focusing pretty heavy on the mountain scene next year. I'll wait and see how much time I can put in on the bike, and how much time I can put in on the MTN bike.

Also weight. This time last year I was weighing in at ~195lbs. I've finally hit 176 (or 80 kilos for my euro absorbed friends). That should help a lot with my cross season. I can tell my climbing has definitely improved with the loss of weight. I'm aiming for 170. I just don't want to look like the Chicken.

I hope everyone has a good weekend, and has safe travels. Take care!