Verge Series Cyclocross - Sterling, Massachusetts

Saturday, November 25, 2006 - Verge Cyclocross Series - Sterling, Massachusetts

I've seen the Verge series cross races on DVD---but this was my first one live. True to form, many of the North Eastern big guns were out in force; Mark McCormick, Jeremy Powers and of course Tim Johnson, were amongst the competitors on this lovely New England Saturday-after-Thanksgiving. But even the not as well known but no less strong or crafty were Matt White, Jos Huseby, (and a large Fiordi Fruitti a.k.a. the "red men") contingent, and of course local boy Adam Hodges-Meyerson and Justin Spinelli to keep things interesting. There was also this guy who rides for "Stevens" who everyone kept talking about...like I ought to know who he is but I don't. Suffice it to say, The Men's Pro field was deep with talent.

Mike didn't pre-reg and so he got a horrendous start in the very back row in a field of 60 guys (give or take). As a spectator though, the Scrapper and I got first row seats! The start was not near the finish, but when he passed me near the finish area, I knew by his position that he had either a bad start or this was going to be a long hour of suffering. He was near the back. Sigh.

As the hammer went down at the front of the race, a decisive break got under way. McCormick, Powers and Johnson had escaped from the field at the first climb/run-up and were off and running (literally). Right behind them, about 30 seconds back was Matt White and the "Stevens" rider, and 30 seconds behind those two was the "red-men" train which included Jos Huseby and Hodges-Meyerson.

Around the 4th lap though, Mike had moved his way through the pack from 60th-ish to about 30th-ish. It was a notable change in his position...he'd ride with a group---then ride away from the group and join another group. He went from almost last place to inside the money of the race.

The above standings were pretty much how the race panned out for the top spots...Johnson attacked the threesome after the last barriers and won the race by 15 bike lengths. McCormick and Powers duked it out for second with McCormick taking the honors...and Matt White bunny-hopped his way to 4th and kept his leaders jersey. Mike finished just inside the money!

I hope you had a happy and safe Thanksgiving!

Squirrel Torment

Nothing gets the Scrapper's goat more than the squirrel! We were out minding our own business and trying to play ball, when this little guy scrambles right in front of the Scrapper, and she goes bananas. Sydney almost had the little rascal until it found safety high above ground in a tree. Sydney then barked for about 5 minutes before we were able to get back to the business of throwing a tennis ball.

Every few minutes or so, Syd would stop playing and listen in the the (very) light breeze for the squirrel talk....then she'd drop the ball and sure enough the squirrel would be half way down the tree trunk. Scrapper would sprint to the tree just before the squirrel got out of reach and they would stare at each other. I applaud Syd for her patience and tenacity and I feel for her inability to climb that tree and get the squirrel.

I think he torments her on purpose. If you could have seen them staring at each other you'd think the same thing. It was cute anyway.

I did a nice long ride today. It was cold but dry. Funny thing is, my friend Bernie once told me that a nice day in my current city of residence, is like a really crummy day in the Bay Area. He's also the one who said once to his then wife (when they were running a pig farm in Iowa), "I don't know about you...but I'm getting the hell out of here!" Guess I had to experience it for myself though....

Mike comes home in a couple of hours! Woo hoo!

68 degrees...and wet!

How about that? We got a "feels more like tropical summer...but it's November" drench! Whole week has been in the 60's. Weird weather. Pretty amazing. Could make it up into the 70's even today. This is the warmest spot in the country. And the rain is heading out of Boston now. The Scrapper and I enjoyed a game of ball in the drink and I am soaked through since it wasn't raining when we headed out, and I failed to wear my rain-gear. It was so warm and humid when I left.

Mike is coming home tomorrow night. At least the week ahead looks good, sunny and dry albeit cool and so we'll get to ride. It'll be good to see him. I am looking forward to next week since it is a short one. Thanksgiving already. Last year Mike and I spent Thanksgiving in Eau Claire, Wisconsin and experienced the first snow storm of the season and our first snowy cross race. We were at least in near proximity of family. This will be our first Thanksgiving a LONG way away from those we love.

No Turkey ride up King's Mountain, No Turkey dinner with the California Mehler's or the Minnesota Taylor's. Maybe there is a Turkey ride here in Massachusetts? You'd think with a Turkey being on the state's Welcome sign, along with all the history about Plymouth that T-day would be a big deal here. I'll have to investigate this further. A special cross race would be awesome. All I know is after a 50 hour work week, I am looking forward to a break.

I am also looking forward to the Cross National Championships in Rhode Island coming up soon. Our friends from Northfield, MN are flying out for the weekend. It'll be great to see Daniel (Casper) and Linda (Sone) again. Allright...I better get to work. Have a great Friday!

Home alone

I forgot what it was like to sleep in and have no pressing things to do! What a luxury! I spent one Saturday while I was in California in San Francisco where I didn't have anything to do until the evening. I rode Muni and walked (I didn't have my bike yet) all around the city---headed into the Castro and Noe Valley. But beyond that, I haven't had a "nothing to do" kind of day in far too long. What a treat.

Yesterday, after completing all my "home-jobs", I headed out for what I thought would be a short ride (I was tired before I started), but ended up to be almost 4 hours on the bike. Each time I planned to complete the loop and turn back, my bike headed in the other direction and I enjoyed a long ride instead. The traffic is awful here though. I almost got doored in Concord and this guy saw a parking space and decided to sprint to it right in front of me. I am sure it isn't meant to be rude, but this area has the rudest driver's of anywhere I've ever lived.

I arrived home a hungry girl, to a frisky Fat Hound. Very nice. I gobbled up some food and headed to the woods with the Scrapper---and then came home and ate some more and Sydney and I watched movies all night. Mike would not approve of my snacking habits---I like to snack and never eat meals---sigh.

I woke up to a foggy-like-wet-but-not-raining morning. The roads are damp and there is a mist but I am contemplating riding anyway since it isn't cold at all. In fact, the mosquito's are out in force and were biting me while Syd and I went out this morning. I guess we are 10 degrees above average. Rain is in the forecast for most of next week though so if I can get out and ride today, it might be a good thing.

Other than that, I have nothing to officially "get done" today and I am about as happy about that as I can be. Have a wonderful Sunday!

Naked Trees

Two glorious weeks in Northern California! That's what I had and that's where I have been. I was working, yeah, but it almost didn't feel that way. Especially since much of my work entailed visiting my old bicycle jaunts. I rode up Mount Hamilton, Kings Mountain, and of course Old La Honda. Heaven. I was worried I might have lost my climbing legs---but it must have been memory snap---or the fact that my bicycle just got a new makeover or something. Hamilton was awesome...20 miles uphill! I forgot how nice it was to just get in a slow rhythm and go up hill for hours. When I reached the infamous observatory I was able to look down across the valley---felt like I was on top of the world. I was at least on the top of my world.

Too hard to catch up in an email and not bore you to tears---suffice it to say---the Bay area is where my heart lives and thrives. Mom and I had one of the best times together I can remember. A rare Mom and Daughter trip down the coast of California. Time flew. We listened to "Spamalot"---but mostly we just "talked-alot" and enjoyed our alone time.

And I hope it was a successful trip. It seemed to have been...In any case, I just dropped Mike off at the airport. He's going home to Minnesota for a week of R&R. The Scrapper and I have some girl time together. Separate vacations this year. I am headed back to California in December for a little R&R myself---not work this time. And then we are on full speed ahead to get ourselves back for good.

So, what about the Naked Trees? When I left on October 25th, we were just passed "peak". As in "peak colors" and leaves everywhere. But yesterday, I went out for my morning ride and I was amazed at the change of scenery. Few trees had any leaves left. You could see through the forests. They (the trees) look like they have no clothes on. Funny to think that plants do just the opposite of humans. They take their clothes off when it gets cold. Today looks like the best day this week to ride and so after a bunch of housework, I will go for a long fall-almost-winter ride and then take Sydney out to the woods to run and romp in the crunchy leaves before it rains (tomorrow...and the next day...and the next day). Mike said I was lucky it was warm enough to not snow at least.

Have a wonderful Saturday!