Race Report - The Air Force Cycling Classic Crystal Cup

Great course today. It started on long straight, 90 degree right turn followed by another 90 turn. The course then did a quick right, slight down hill to a left hand turn on the main route Cool part was another right hand turn that went under one of the skyscrapers in Crystal City. Then eventually back out to an extremely long straightaway to the start finish.

As any 3/4 race it started out fairly quick and backed up in the first turn. Yes, it was a 90 turn but for this race there was not one place that the hands should have been on the brakes. The first 6 laps started to shred the field, I did my best to claw my way from the back to the middle of the field. I never made it past the back quarter of the pack.

So what happened. Well, I think I am playing catchup. What I mean is that early in the season I had great form and fitness, lots of trainer miles in the garage and team camp in California. Since then my riding has been hit or miss while others have increased. Their form and fitness has caught and by passed mine. So now I have to figure out how to play catchup and be in good form to start cyclocross this fall.

But for today, I had a good start and held on as long as I could. But that has just got to be better.

Been away but still riding

Yes yes, I know... I know... I am delinquent on a few things, several race reports and just things in general. My cycling has taken a bit of a hit. I am not sure of all of the factors, work, funeral, training plans, meal plans, blah blah blah. Bottom line is that I have slacked off the last month or so.

I am still “recovering” from a series of accidents that left me banged, bruised and piecing together bikes. My Dogma frame is still off in California getting repaired at Calfee’s. I am hoping that it comes back soon. But in the mean while I have been riding a CAAD 9 and working well. I have also upgraded by Garmin 705 to a Joule 2.0. Now that I typed upgrade, I think I might have to reconsider that term to something like equivalent but not necessarily upgrade. I will have a product review on it in the next couple of days.

So what is on the horizon? Several races are coming up, Tour of Washington County, Giro di Coppi, Lost River, Herndon Crit and Reston. I just spent the last few hours with Kirk, my coach from VeloWorks and setup my training plan for this week. It looks as if I will have promising weather and a good plan.

As the week progresses I will update my progress.