2012 Viroqua Cross!!!

Hello all!

Every Thursday in Sept and Oct at 5:45 at Washington Park in Viroqua there will be a 45min-1hr practice race.

Free. All welcome, we have beginners to the IA state champ from years back. Just show up and have fun.

Thanks!

Chris

Early Base

Starting to put in some work towards next season... silly I know to get going so early, but you know, I'm silly. Meeting some great shop guys for an early ride out of pewaukee at 6am tomorrow. All in all, the spring has felt sluggish and I have had a hard time getting time on the bike, work has been pretty intense.

That being said, there are always ways to get ready for a season. Instead of riding off weight this Spring I have revamped the diet and really had way more discipline around food. Lost some lbs and weigh in less than any point last year. Feels good to improve power/weight with minimal training and I do feel it on the bike. Power numbers make the creep back up quicker than I would think, going to do some crits this summer... the kids are older and sleep is better. I don't overtrain anymore. I get something from every workout and don't get overly mental. Maybe things get better with age? Certainly I tend to flog myself with less frequency. Lee would(does) make fun of my powermeter, but that has helped as I bail out on fewer LT workouts, work the Vo systems better.

So this is going to be a great season! Going to see a local allergist and Will Beaty is going to run the kids series of Viroqua Cross! The WCA season is going to be looong and I'm doing Nats.

Badger Prairie

A pretty good showing for Viroqua-Crossers out in Verona. Jay and Dick had good showings in the 45+, Jay getting 7th and Dick 8th in age grouping. Bob C. rocked his second race, looking good out there on a tough Course. Newlin was thought to be 7th, 10th in the results, managed to finish a race. Watershed moment!

The course had a few minor improvements that added up to a pretty interesting and flowing course. The RR ties on the backside certainly made it more interesting, and the front of the course was way more flowing... lots of rest, but every other part that wasn't rest was crazy talk for 30sec at a time, uphill! Fun!

See you Guys at 5:45 on Thrusday night at Washington!

10/14/10

Hey-yo! Very fun practice again tonight. Dick, Lee, Jay, Bob, Thom and I all came out for the throw-down, and throw down we did! The new cheater sections of the course have made the racing pretty rugged. If you get a gap on somebody, you turn around and there they are again! This tactic was employed freely, and Dick claimed to have a two lap lead at the finish... Maybe he did!

Thanks to all who showed up and had fun. We are starting the races at 5:45 now to squeeze a couple more weeks out of the fading daylight.

Thanks to Donna for hanging out and running the clock, even giving splits! Whoa! It was pretty awesome, accept for when she said that we were pulling too slow a lap. 35 min still seems like plenty of practice.

See you next week, and look for the ViroquaCrossers in Verona this weekend. Jay and Dick in 35+, Bob in the 4s and Chris in the 3s. Good luck to all!

Cross is Fun

Sorry for the infrequent posts!

Last night we only had a few guys, but I think e might have had the most fun. We made the course longer with more features than weeks past and also had some spots where dropped guys could cut the feature and catch back on, still race wheel-to-wheel. Nothing better than attacking on a stretch of pavement to get a gap, turn around and see a rested dude who is about to throttle you! It was great!

Thanks to Jay for the 'Team Car'. Gotta get some photos up. Harder this week with one race. Also, note to Lee V. We added a few longer stretches for all of our roadie type dudes, making the laps both longer and a little harder. Super fun!

See you out there next week!

Chris

Week 3 Coming up, USGP Report...

Hey everyone, looks like the season has started, ready or not. The Madison USGPs have come and gone and we are heading into week three of Viroqua Cross. Thursday will have some new folks coming to to race; local MTBers will be hitting it as well as the usual cast of characters. Looks like a 35min format, dropped riders welcome to pit and catch back as needed. Have fun, race as hard as you can. That's the point, right?

A bunch of us did the USGPs this weekend. Jay and Dick hit the 4s on Saturday and had some fun. The consensus was that a 6th row start and a few crashes out of the gun pretty much seal the deal... Yep, that will do it! The start is important, but it's tough to battle through that many dudes and get in the winning break. The first race is to registration!

I had a 5th row start but battled forward, was in the top 10-15 guys and felt pretty good. It was fast but doable. On the second lap I totally crashed at the barriers... guess I was due! Pretty aggravating but I battled back, kept calm. Lungs locked up again, did some weird coughing-barfing. Thought about dropping out but instead sucked it up and pedaled around and felt okay. Kicked off the brakes, bobbled a few more times... it happens man! My first season, everything was usually smooth. Now, maybe not so much.

Whatever is going on for me health-wise is a bummer, but man I had fun racing in that big a group. Moving up during the first lap was a blast, getting chopped in the corners and bumping is somehow super-fun. It'll come around and I will be healthy, all isn't lost. It's nice to not get a result but remember that racing is fun and should be considered process driven. I train a bunch and can get all mental regarding results, but if I have trained and have put the time in it is nice to race and be present. Maybe that is what guys say as the get older and slower... but even though I have coughed up a lung in the last two races, I am relaxing away from the 'what-if' type thinking. I did throw up after the race, but I also did finish. Maybe I put myself out and dug a hole health wise, but I doubt it.

First Thursday and other notes...

Hello ViroquaCrossers, Connie Hawkins aka Chocolate Thunder, or lone follower of ViroquaCross. This last Thursday we had our first Race, or practice race and we had a blast. Slightly greasey out there, we had a full showing of the Local Cross guys, Lee and Andrea from IA and first-timer Eric from LaCrosse! It was fun and we did 2 20min mini-races. Fun. Next week will be missing some, so Jay will be running the show. Please let him know how much you appreciate what a pain it is. He is already watching my chickens...

Also, a few Western WI guys were at the No Good Double Cross today. I saw Eric anyway and he looked great. Really fun conditions, sloppy, just the way you like it. I imploded with lung-mung that doesn't seem to want to clear this season. Paul from MWInc suggested allergy shots and I am gonna look into it.

Each year I suffer like a dog until Fall is cold and Summer is hot. Since I am only fit for 3 weeks a year, it would be nice to be able to race as I only race during my allergy season. If anyone else has a suggestion I'll take it. I already don't do gluten and that has helped other symptoms, but I am all ears at this point.

No matter how much I hated coughing up a lung and puking from the lunging, it was fun to ask a spectator to move so I wouldn't barf on him.

See you the week after next for some fun at 6pm.

Chris

2010...

Okay, here we go. Next Thursday we will have adult races at Washington Park starting at 6pm. It will be fun, one race.

The Series will begin in October and will be run by Vernon Trails... and I am very, very glad for some help. After a few years of plugging away at this thing I am glad to hand over the reigns to VT.

I will still use this blog to update the schedule and the happenings of our series.

Thanks for reading, and again: Thursday at Washington Park in Viroqua, 6pm.

See you there!

Chris

WCA Schedule 2010

2010 WCA Cyclocross Schedule

Saturday, Sept. 26-27: USGP Sun Prairie

Saturday, Oct. 2 Cross at the Domes of Mitchell Park (my wife inc)

Sunday, Oct. 3 Lapham Peak (Lake Country Endurance)

Saturday, Oct. 9 Grafton Pumpkincross (BVC Nomad)

Saturday, Oct. 16 Badger Prairie (5-9s)

Sunday, Oct. 17 Cam Rock

Saturday, Oct. 23 Kletzsch Park (Pegasus)

Sunday, Oct. 24 Whitewater (UW-Whitewater)

Saturday, Oct. 30 Halloween Cross (Velo Trocadero)

Saturday, Nov. 6 Estabrook (Hampshire Cycle Club)

Sunday, Nov. 7 Team Magnus Madison Cross Race Warner Park (Magnus)

Saturday, Nov. 13 Sun Prairie (Brazen Dropouts)

Sunday, Nov. 21 State Cyclocross Championships: Hales Corners (Hampshire Cycle Club)

This looks great, Excited to get to some new courses! Wonder what the My Wife Inc. guys have up their sleeves?

2010, Plans?

It's now getting to June. The weather is hot and I'm actually getting out on the bike now. In seasons past I have had a hard peak in the end of June and early July and dragged myself through the fall. I like being fast in May, but not as much as I love being fast in Sept-Oct.

Intentionally or not, this year I have stayed off the bike and am coming into June super fresh. Still hitting the same numbers on the Powertap as last Fall, but now I'm lighter and way more motivated to hit a hard peak in September. The goals are the same, to get fast and be a player in the Bs, or 3s race. Seems like every year we have more and more guys focusing on cross, so I am going to step it up this season! I might say that every year... but I am headed that way.

For the local races we are doing a Thursday night practice race still, but there will be one of them. ViroquaCross will continue with a few weekend events and Marty is going to run one down in PDC as well. So the series is still on, but more informal. Does this mean less prizes? Yes during the weekend, no during the week. The Weekend prizes are going to be nuts! Fancy stuff...

So if you would like to come out and get some this fall, please do. It's always fun to have folks from out of town come up and experience how great Viroqua is!

10/9 Expert

DSC_0053 Pic from Marty's flkr pages, shot by Roger Look at those bikes! 2 years ago we had MTBs only, now dudes are rocking tubies here in Viroqua. And while Lee V. will yell at you if you have them, folks in the USA can now get Challenge and Dugast tyres, not tires(?), all over the place. Even here in Viroqua! The racing began with a LeMans start, mostly because Lee and Chris thought it was funny. The strategy quickly backfired as Jay and Dick took the holshot and gapped the field slightly out of the first turn. This gap led to nought as Chris and Lee caught at the middle of the first lap and countered off of Jay after the barriers and built a small lead. Jay and Lee rode together until the 3rd lap where Lee attacked to bridge to Chris and spent a lap doing so. Jay rode alone for the rest of the race, chasing and closing until lap 7. Lee caught Chris on the 6th last and the two settled into a rhythm. Meanwhile Dick and Marty were battling it out behind Jay. Chris attacked on the last run up...

and Lee stayed on him! Note the Blur of speed in the photo... Once Lee caught, he countered on the rise on the backside and kept a small gap into the descent where Chris caught. Lee attacked again out of the following turn and got another gap... Chris caught Lee at the final run-up, but couldn't close the last three feet and Lee took an exciting W.

10/9 Racin, Beginner Adults

Once again we had a thrilling beginners race. While Chris Stuckmam staked a huge lead from the gun, followed by a small t chase of Will B. and Aaron Schmidt, aka "Ha Ha". MIss Kerry from Pleasant Ridge and Meg Newlin followed behind. If every beginner women came on the same night we would have a field of 10. Perfect for our course and those riders looking to race in a mellow setting with a good field. Sigh...

With Chris S. wallering away on the field Haha and Will truly dueled every lap. I should get the video posted, but Aaron, who rides once a week, is really improving and will be a force to reckon with as he continues to ride and develop. His post race quotes truly embody what the sport is. We'll get some live reflections next week.

Anyway, Miss Kerry slowly built her gap over Meg Newlin and rode in for a solid 4th, while Will was able to hold off Aaron with a tough attack before the switchbacks on the back of the course. Aaron chased to the run up, but the gap would not come down. Nice work Will!

10/9 Racin, Girls Race

In the Luna Organics Girls open we had three fast young ladies who were gunning for some great prizes!

Hannah, Alice and Teresa gathered at the start, smiling innocently at each other, then the gun when off. Being a single lap race, the start was important, and Hannah got the holeshot and rode it in from the gun.

Some days you can suffer and other days you cannot. Alice didn't dig as hard as usual, so Teresa put some hurt down and Alice rode a bit more mellow than usual.

10/9 Racin, 11-15

There is a quick video from the 11-15 race. And Alice eating goo, 2x Caf... But boy did she ring the bell after that!

The racing was pretty exciting, some of the guys who raced 2 years ago were back with some other new guys too. Fun was had by all, and the racing was great!

At the start of the race we had all Faulters, Arlo, Luca, Will and Alice and Paul. At the Barriers Luca and Will had gotten a small gap over Paul who was dangling in no-mans land. Dominic and Arlo were locked in a battle for fourth behind them. Following were Hannah and Teresa Faulter as Alice had a Minor mechanical and pulled the chord on that one to save some gas for the girls race. She also started eating goo...

Luca and Will dueled to the line, Will taking it by a bike length. Paul rode in next, followed by Arlo who was taking it easy and was almost reeled in by Dominic, who will never, ever quit. Very awesome resolve by the youngest guy out there. He was followed in by his sisters, who finished Hannah then Teresa.

10/9 Racin, 7-9

Wow! Last night had several Throwdowns that came down to the final run-up. It's a pretty brutal way to finish a race, but fun as a spectator!

In the First kids Race, 7-10, we had three fast and small dudes rocking the chicannery. Macy, Isaac and the Baby Condor were all moving Quickly, but Macy has the eye of the Tiger as well as a Space Alien on his helmet. When you don't have that kinda mojo it makes competing tough. So Macy took it and garnered some great Conti stickers.

See you guys next week!

10/2 Race Report and Results

We're back in action! This Friday saw the return of Fall like conditions with temps in the 40s and 50s and rain falling intermittently. The course in Viroqua was perfect, hooking up in places as well as providing plenty of bike handling practice. Those who remembered to Pam their pedals and shoes were rewarded!

In the kids races it was the Faulters racing the Will/Alice family... a family battle that pitted brother and sister against brother and sister. Will powered to the front and took a commanding holeshot all the way to the finish. The real battle was for second place. Dominic and Hannah Faulter battled hard, followed by Teresa and Alice. Teresa looked like she had Dominic's number this week, setting up dinner table smack talk and bragging rights for another week. Alas, it was not to be, as Dominic brought her back after a bobble, additional crash and mechanical saw Teresa running up the switchbacks and into the finish. Meanwhile Alice had gone through similar trials on the course and struggled to get her chain back onto her bike after a tough slide on the backside of the course. Alice is a tough cookie and raced hard to the finish despite being gapped with a mechanical.

In the Intermediate race we saw some new blood from Madison. Unfortunately at this time I cannot find my notes from the race! Bummer... The two Madisonites were equipped with Cross bikes and a thirst for Coffee and Margaritas, that was certain.

Tom Faulter was back on the bike with Cameron and Will B. and Will filling out the roster. The dude from Madison was fast and consistent, laying down 5:30 laps, 4 of 'em to take home some Kickapoo Coffee, winners of Coffee.com's Micro Roaster of the Year! Tom was holding his wheel tough, but his converted Roadster's grass and mud friction brakes made staying with him difficult. Tom did hold off a hard charging Cameron who didn't have the same dominating form that saw him win consecutive weeks earlier in the season. Thanks for making the trip Cam! Behind them, the Wills were battling with the other Madisonite, who seemed to be enjoying her first Cross Race. Meg and Emma would have enjoyed another female beginner to ride and race with. Unfortunately, this left only the two boys named Will. The first of did a lap and came off the course... "This hurts!" he said. Once he was reminded that everyone was hurting, he proceeded to immediately caught Will B and said Madisonian.

The three of them continued to battle with Willy B taking it, Followed by our wonderful visitor with forgotten name. So it was pretty cool!

1. Guy from Madison

2. Tom Faulter, Vernon Trails

3. Cameron, Team Waukon Dentistry

4. Will B., VT

5. Woman From Madison

6. Will

Expert Race

With the course all broken in, the Expert race was expected to be quick, and it was. I think anyway, I was hurting!

In the first lap Chris N. and Lee V. opened a small gap on Dick, Jay, Tom and DFM (Dude from Madison) in the first Chicane and it grew at the barriers and through the second Chicane and descent. When Lee spilled in a greasy corner, Chris got another gap and it grew each of the 8 laps of the race until a last lap flat made it a bit more interesting. Riding in on a flat, Chris managed to hold off a hard charging Jay Skrede!

Behind Chris, Jay overtook Lee on the crash and chased hard for the rest of the race. Dick and DFM were chasing Lee hard, DFM attacked Dick, got a gap and Bridged to Lee and passed him on the switchbacks to the run-up, but Lee wasn't done. Surging to the barrier to the run, Lee caught and passed 10ft. in front of the finish! It was a thrilling race to watch as Lee, covered in Mud and snot galloped up the run up to finish in the money.

With the course wet, the race was exciting and technical to the finish.

Thanks to all who came out and helped take down the course in the rain!

1. Chris N., Wheaton

2. Jay Skrede, Vernon Trails

3. Lee V., Bikes To You

4. DFM

5. Dick, Vernon Trails

6. Tom F., Vernon Trails

Interbike and some scattered Race Results...

Hey Folks, sorry for last weeks' cancelation. Missed a bunch of fun stuff, including Sidie Fest, the Vernon Trails Trail building event. Bummer, since year one I have missed it for a bunch of reasons... Now it will be after Vegas every year. Hopefully next year the travel will be less nutty and I won't get sick. Anywho, enough boo-hooing! Vegas had many Cross goodies. Most Notably the Colnago Cross Prestige. This build was around 14lbs.

Also, some race reports...

The week of 9/18 Saw Jay Skrede win his first Fast Guy race! John Sherwin and Aaron Schmidt have come out to spice up the beginner and Intermediate field. John chased around a very friendly(off the bike) guy from Madison. He actually came back and doubled up...

So sorry for the lack of posts and updates. The racing has been fast a furious and we are getting into the heart of the season. Enjoy the pics!

Stuckman took second behind Cameron and Andrea V followed them in. Will B. put in a good effort and chase hard. Good times!

Last Weeks Racing!

Howdy race fans, sorry for the lack of updates and reports! Big weekend of travel and some make up for the missed Monday.

Kids Races!

We had some new talent out on the course with Corin Humphries out here racing fixed! Made for an exciting race as he and Jacob duked it out for a bit before settling into 15sec intervals. Out-of-towner from MN, Conner Slonvinski came in behind the two locals. With Jacob gone for the rest of the fall it will be interesting to see how these races shake out.

We also had an open race that was pretty exciting. Will and Corin raced eachother pretty tough for second following in after Jacob...

In the Adult Races...

Beginner/Intermediate will be posted later when I get my notes together, but they were great races.

In the Expert/Produde race, Lee V. and Jay Skrede pulled a fast one on the rest of the field and attacked/blocked from the gun, distancing Chris N., Tom Faulter, Dick and the rest making for an exciting race.

Lee was able to bridge a substantial gap with 3 to go and attack Jay in the final lap. While Lee did win again, Jay rode an outstanding Race and looks to break up the Newlin/Venticher strangle hold on the 1/2 places. Who knows what nuttiness will ensue with Jay's increased fitness and pluck!

More Video

Here are some more Videos from last week's races. Connor and Macy railing! Not Connor rocking the Jr-Jr run-ups. Sometimes it's faster and easier to run... and Connor illustrates this on the Jr. Level. My Breaks are squeaky!

When Coffee is on the line...

Coffee is just about the only legal performance enhancing supplement on the market... it might as well be an amazing one from Kickapoo Coffee!

Dick is getting fast:

This video is old, but you can see that Dick is quick... He was even faster this week!

Intermediate Race

1. Dick, VT

2. Chris S.

3. Andrea Venticher

5. Thom Falter, VT, old school jersey

6. Bryn Hawklove, Blue Dog

7. Meg Newlin, Rp Activesports/Craft Factory Team

Thom would have put the smack-down upon Dick if his stem hadn't crapped out on him, maybe next week?

Tune in for the exciting details, or better yet, come out and test your mettle against Waukon IA's finest and a few Viroqua Locals!

Jay, Lee and Chris are getting loney in the Expert Cat. Come out and show those guys what's up.