A New Title

Recently I raced the Cyclocross National Championships in Madison, Wisconsin. Two weeks before the racing started the city received two feet of snow. Heat up the course to a temperature of about forty degrees add about 1000 racers, and you have the perfect recipe for a muddy, sloppy  course and a layer of ice underneath. Because of the treturous conditions, the race promoter decided to plow the course prior to nationals The race started off with Spencer Petrov winning the hole shot.  Within the first lap I took the lead, from then on the race was about keeping the power high and staying upright. Although I finished with the win I had a few crashes. I do not think anybody finished the race without at least one fall. I enjoyed Cyclocross National Championships, and  cannot wait for a great road season with Team Specialized Juniors.


Gage Hecht

Time for a change.

I don't really like change.  I prefer order.  I like consistency and predictability.  My friends have called me obsessive and even anal.  Even in my training, I have found that I have been able to respond well to structured, repetitive blocks of workouts and races.

However there is a danger when you go without any change.  People have a tendency to become complacent.  In training this can lead to a plateau in ability.  In life, this becomes a lack of growth.  Change is usually avoided because it is unknown.  Unknown in the process and unknown in the result.  But change can also bring new challenges and opportunities.  It is these challenges and opportunities that allow you to break through to new levels.

So here I am, at the beginning of a new season.  I am on a new team, getting used to new equipment, and meeting new teammates.  Most of all, I am looking forward to a new set of challenges and opportunities.

Cheers,
Jeromy

Just a normal ride? Not quite.

Today, I rode, I rode a ride no different than I do any other day. I started out not looking forward to it, as I grew tired over the last four days of finals. However, as I started, I knew today's ride was not the normal ride. Today I reached a moment during my ride with no cars, no sound, only my music, the many stars and I existed on that road. I seemed to fall away from the world I live in, and fall into my own. I rode, gazing at the stars thankful for such a clear night. It made me realize how thankful I am for being in such a great sport. I had a moment today, a great one. It is an amazing feeling to be so passionate about something that you never grow tired of it. Today I did not want to stop riding, I wanted to ride forever. Finding these moments, are one of the reasons I ride for. Not because I have to, but because I love it. Rides like today reassure every reason why I ride and devote so much time to this sport. Pure Passion.


Jack Maddux

STOKED for First Race of the Season!

The day has finally come. The day of the first race of the year. The day of the infamous Ontario Grand Prix. The season is finally starting to roll around and I am just too excited that racing has finally begun here in So Cal. As I sit here writing, I wonder to myself what kind of race and day I am going to have on and off the bike. I will keep wondering this as I go for a easy 3 hour ride before my actual race. As it is still early in the season and after all it is the first race of the season, I will only be racing the pro 1/2/3 race for some race fitness, speed work, and get used to the old bumping and rubbing in the pack once again. For me, this race will be a test as to where my fitness level, how much endurance I have, and what I need to work going into this season and some important races I have for the early part of the season. As the season rolls around today, I can't wait for later today and the season ahead.
Excited as always,
Nick Castellano

Lemons Into Lemonade

I’m not sure who first said it, at my age it especially haunts me as I recall it (I am the oldest racer on Team Specialized Racing), but youth is truly wasted on the young. I’ve realized it for several years now too that life catches up with you. For musicians it’s the drugs and alcohol and the hard living that goes along with it, just look at Keith Richards. For lifelong athletes it’s the inevitable injuries we all sustain along the way that catches up with us.

I hobbled around for the last year and a half as my hip degenerated into unbearable arthritis finally putting me on crutches to move around the house. More than a couple of hours on the mountain bike only once a week and my bone-on-bone shoulder joint makes me pay for the pleasure of riding single track for the next two days. And any more than two hours on the dirt leaves me at risk for being unable to brake as the pain from the nerve impingement in my elbow causes a seemingly unconscious decision to not squeeze the brake lever because of the knifing agony in my fingers and elbow. But like Keith Richards who is still ripping it up on stage, that’s never stopped me from doing that which gives me great pleasure, riding my bike. Never, that is, until last October when I could no longer put pressure on my pedals because of the pain in my hip. Thank goodness for medical technology.

On November 16th I had a new hip joint installed and today, seven weeks later, I feel like a kid again. I found a really good surgeon who literally did a perfect job. His name is Peter Callander for those out there who might be having the same problem that started a few years ago in my left hip. I am completely pain free and walking like I did when I was a teenager.

Before the surgery I thought there was a real possibility that I had raced my last race. Now I’ve booked flights to South Africa and Italy in August and September to once again race in both the mountain bike world championships and road and time trial world championships. Life is really, really good again. It will take a few more months to reach the fitness levels I need to be competitive but the suffering needed to get there is something I relish.

So fear not fellow masters racers, the risks we accept and all seem to realize as we pursue our passion on the bike is fixable. I was encouraged to take the chance with my hip surgery because of advice I received from other athletes that had their hips overhauled. Their advice and stories helped me overcome my trepidation. If you’re having problems with your hip on the bike and want to talk about it, let me know. It’s the least I can do to pay it forward.

Rob Anderson

It's Really Treated Me Well

This off-season has treated me very well. I took a break played some water polo and got right back into my rhythm of riding my way through the off-season. My off-season started slow with a knee injury that occurred from starting off to hard. I worked my way up to some good base mileage. I've done lots of fun riding with exploring, adventuring, and finding new places to ride in. I have also grown to start to like riding in the dirt. My dirt riding came from a buddy of mine in San Diego, Eric Oien. Ever since he told me about his adventures in the dirt, I tried it out and grew too really like it and have fun with it. These adventures and explorations helped me get the base miles I needed along with a couple of 20 hour weeks and helped me really love cycling even more. Along with these adventures, Strava has been a great tool for me in helping me get back into shape with the endurance my body requires to refuel for this coming racing season. The monthly Strava challenges have helped me to keep my endurance up along with lots of fun, long weeks. Although I did not complete the most recent Strava challenge by completing 500 km in a week due to a weekend stomach flu, those 333 km I did complete were worth the try and still kept my endurance up and where it needed to be.

I end my base work this week and finally move on to intensity and power training. As the season comes closer to our very eyes and with all the adventures, explorations, founded areas to ride in, and Strava, I can say that this off-season has treated me well and I look forward to finally racing again in what is expected to be a very competitive year of junior racing here in so cal and amongst all of the nation’s best juniors.

Take care,
Nick