Week #4 Texas Chainring Massacre (Late post)

Kicked off the 2019 gravel racing season in Valley View, Texas at the Texas Chainring Massacre 100K. The Move Up Off Road team was out in full force. It was really cool to have a whole team travel to a race.
I signed up for the "B" race know I wouldn't win any money in the "A" race. We all started together and after a 3 mile roll out, it was game on. The Texas roads were narrow, flat and fast. There was some chunky gravel and a few potholes, but dry. It was more like a road race with the pace going back and forth. I ended up averaging over 21 mph and managed to stay away from all the crashes that happened. Jason Chase and I tried to cover any moves from the "B" racers. By the time we got down to the sprint, there was only one other "B" racer with us and he was strong in the sprint. Jason claimed the second spot on the podium and I was third.
Happy with my performance since it is so early in the year and not riding outside for the last couple week. This was also my first race on the new Lauf True Grit. Really happy how the bike felt during the race. It handled the loose gravel and rough roads very well.
This weekend I am off to Oklahoma Gravel Growler in Shawnee. Should be another good race and warm!

Week #3 Lots of Zwift miles

It was cold this week so I didn't get any afternoon rides done outside. I am starting to get over being sick but tired of riding inside. On Saturday I got in 115 miles or just a little over 5 hours on the trainer. My legs actually felt much better than when I did 120 miles back in November.
This upcoming weekend is the first race of the season at the Texas Chainring Massacre. I don't really have any big expectations for the race since it is so early. I know that it will be fast, so hopefully just hang on as long as I can. The first weekend of February I am at the Oklahoma Gravel Growler. Racing back to back weekends will be tough but should get my fitness ready for some good training this spring.
I didn't make it into the lottery for Dirty Kanza this year. Definitely disappointed since I made the podium in the 50-54 age group in 2018. I have a few folks working on trying to get me into the race. Hopefully I will here something out soon.
I am trying to finalize the race in Iceland in July. Looks like it is going to happen! I am very excited to get a chance to go back there. It is a beautiful country but it is going to be a hard race.
As I look back at this time last year, I am thankful for all the support I have today. It has been a really hard last 12 months but I have some amazing friends!

Week #2 SICK

Unfortunately I came down with a cold this week so I decided to take a few days and not do any extra training rides. I was able to keep commuting everyday so my goal of riding "almost" everyday continues. I don't want to say I will ride everyday this year because you never know what will come up and some days the ride probably just won't happen and I am fine with that.
I did spend the last 3 days on Zwift and got some good miles in. Saturday I spent almost 5.5 hours, 80 miles and 12K feet of climbing. I did Alpe du Zwift 3 times and it was hard: 55:59, 59:50 & 72:55. That last climb was really hard and my legs were just dead. My heart rate kept dropping and I couldn't produce any watts = bonking. Today I rode 3.5 hours for 82 miles and my legs felt recovered. This is a good sign.
Hopefully the snow will melt this week so I can get out on the gravel for a few rides. On January 26th is my first race and it is going to hurt. It should be a fun time with the team though.

Week #1 in 2019 = 335 miles

Getting some good miles in to start the year off. Rode 335 miles this week with a couple rides on Zwift since I had things to do during the day. Got in 100 miles today in just over 6 hours. Not fast at all, but doesn't have to be this time of year. I have lots of races planned so just getting time in the saddle is the plan for now. My first race is in 3 weeks and since I haven't done anything real hard for awhile it's going to hurt. Luckily it's only 100K so it will be over quick. I made sure today that I ate and drank well. I need to continue with that because when it is cold out I sometimes forget! Have at least half of my race schedule planned out and registered for. Hopefully I will get into Dirty Kanza, but you never know.

New Year / New Beginning

So 2018 has come and gone, hopefully 2019 will be a better year. One of my goals is to keep up with this blog.
I have quite a few things planned as far as racing and other bike adventures in the next few months. Looking back over the past 12 months, my life has changed in so many ways. I keep trying to stay positive, but it is really hard some days. Cycling has been my therapy to cope with the everyday stress. I do enjoy getting out by myself and letting my mind wander as the miles pass, but I would gladly give it all up to spend more time with Joy. I was very lucky to get to spend as much time over the past 25ish years with her. I just never dreamed that there wasn't going to be many more to come. I know that life will go on, but I have lost something that can never be replaced.
Here is a list of the 2019 races I have planned. It's a lot!

26-Jan	Texas Chainring Massacre	100K
	Valley View, TX
2-Feb	Oklahoma Gravel Growler	81 miles
	Shawnee, OK
2-Mar	Dirty South Roubaix	100K
	Alto Pass, IL
16-Mar	Landrun 100	100 miles
	Stillwater, OK
13-Apr	Gravel Grinder Nationals	100 miles
	Lawrence, KS
20-Apr	Iowa Wind & Rock	340 miles
	Winterset, IA
27-Apr	The Epic	80 mles
	Lake Ozark, MO
25-May	American Legion Post #197 Gravel Mission	100 miles
	Eagle, NE
1-Jun	Dirty Kanza	200 miles
	Emporia, KS
June ??	Loess Hills Enduro	100K
	Malvern, IA
22-Jun	Solstice 100	100 miles
	Malcolm, NE
20-Jul	Bohemian Sto Mils	100 miles
	Prague, NE
27-Jul	The Rift	200K
	Hvolsvöllur, Iceland
17-Aug	Gravel Worlds	150 mles
	Lincoln, NE
7-Sep	Pony Express 120	120 miles
	Marysville, MO
15-Sep	The Hondo	119 miles
	Augusta, KS
12-Oct	Cuban Gravel Crisis	100 miles
	Cuba, MO
18-Oct	GPP Growler Grinder	100 miles
	Rogers, AR