Check out what I will be riding.

Here is a pic of the frame and fork that I will be racing on this year. Its the 2011 Specialized CRUX. It's a new frame design and new fork. I'm very excited to rail on this bike. Hopefully I will have one put together within the next month or so. Specialized will be the official bike of the Collision 1 Cycling Team.

Pre-Season Training

With the 2010 cyclo-cross season only 3 short months away, I've been doing my best to get out on the bike over the last couple of months to get some base miles in. As we all know, the Western Washington spring never came, and the beginning of summer hasn't been much better. Nonetheless, the miles need to be logged, if the goals are to be accomplished. So regardless of the weather that I'm being delt with, I will be out on the back rural roads of Snohomish County ramping things up. Soggy but true! Thanks for reading.

Bergs in Wenatchee

We are in Wenatchee to support Kristi who ran a half marathon here today. Holden and I rode are bikes around the city as Kristi ran great and went on to get 1st Place in her age group and 6th Overall. Great job Kristi especially on your "Happy Birthday" weekend.

True North/MTB Camping Trip

With Holden on spring break this week, we are packing up the True North OSV and heading East of the mountains for a 3 day camping and mountain biking trip. We are going to the Winthrop/Methow Valley area which is a mountain biking paradise in the Northwest and is one of our favorite places to get away.
We look foward to getting some pics posted as we enjoy the outdoors as a cycling family, and have another opportunity to put the True North O.S.V. to the test.

Collision 1 to ride Specialized for 2010

Is Specialized taking over the world? It could be, and the Collision 1 Cyclo-Cross Team will be supported by Specialized for the 2010 season. It will be exciting to be riding a new bike that will be significantly different than what I have been riding for the last few seasons. The Specialized Tri-Cross comes in both a full Carbon model and an Aluminum model with Carbon seat stays. I probably will not receive my 'cross bikes until this summer, but nonetheless, I'm still very excited.

U.S. National Cyclo-Cross Championships

Well Saturday morning was a beautiful day with race temps around 40+ and the sun was out. Great conditions with wet splattery mud and fast carpet like grass on the brewery side of the course.
Phil and I really tried to relax in the morning to mellow out for our race. We were excited and nervous. We lined up in the 70's (ninth row) out of 195 racers! Wow! The gun went off and we headed down the start stretch just trying to stay out of trouble. Once we hit the dirt, Phil and I started to work up taking outside lines and taking chances. Within the first 1/2 lap, we had already passed around 30 other guys and were in the low 40's. Things were looking good. We crossed the road to the grass/brewery section and I went to pass another rider on the inside, and I rolled my rear tubular tire off of my rim. Phil, continued on as I stopped and shouldered my bike and ran another 50 meters to the run up. Up the stairs I went and at the top, stopped to remount my tire. I hope it would hold til I got to the pits, since I still had 1/2 a lap to go. Riding cautiously, it did, and Dave, Dom, and Kevin were there for a quick and smooth bike exchange. I tried to get back on it, but I could not generate any power. I was riding technically excellent and was having fun doing it, but for some reason, I could get anything from my legs. I had felt great and rested all week, and now this. What do you do? Phil maintained his position, and I began to fade back losing the positions that I had gained in the opening of the race. I eventually finished in 70th. I was very dissapointed with my result, but at the same time, I had fun on the amazing course and the crowds were amazing and huge. It was still a blast and overall a very successfull season.
After all, I did also receive an upgrade to "Category 1" for cyclo-cross from USA cycling based off this years results. All in all, a successfull season. I'm already looking forward to next year.
We had a blast in Bend at what was probably the best hosted/ran National Championships ever. One of the funnest times racing we have ever had. You will have to hear it from Kristi on how her Pro race went on Sunday, but I can tell you it went great, and she got a solid 17th after passing around 20 other riders in the first lap. What a great ride!
Thank you everyone for your support and help this season. We still have one left in January as the season is coming to a close. What a year!

Friday!

Today was another day to ride the course and dial in tire selections. I still can't decide since the course changes hourly with the weather and how many riders tread on it.
Kristi raced her Masters race today and wa off to a great start and settling in when she doulbe flatted after hitting something sharp on the course. She lost a few spots and had to battle back to finish in 6th. Not quite what her goal was for the year, but with a couple of flat tires, what do you do, that's racing. You will have to check her site for the details.
Tonight we had a Bicycle Centers/Collision 1 Team dinner. A good time, and discussed getting ready for tomorrows racing. Steve, Kevin, and Dominique go off at 9:30, and Phil and I hit it at 2:15. Phile and I are a bit nervous and anxious with nothing to lose. We are lining up in the 70's or so out of 190 riders. We have nothing to lose, and are gonna do all we can to work up through the field. They are saying that it will probably snow tonight and the temps are now only barely freezing. This could turn the course to a splattery mud mess, or a few inches of fresh new snow. Either way, we are happy. Bring on the mess!
Whish us luck, it's time to get some rest.