Capitol 'Cross Classic - Quick Report

Brrr....

I finished off my 2008 cycling season yesterday morning at the Capitol 'Cross Classic in Reston, VA. It was a brutally tough day to ride a bike, much less race a bike. The temperatures sat at or below 30 degrees for most of the day and the winds blasted from between 20 to 40 mph. Still, this is cyclocross, and the tougher, the better (and kudos for anybody brave enough to come out an watch this race. Standing around in the icy cold and frigid winds was as challenging as was racing in it.)

I'm working on a longer posting with a full race report and lots of photos, but in the meantime, here's the gist of it all: I came to this race three years ago as a spectator to witness my first ever cyclocross race live. I came to race it last year and finished 44th. This year I returned better trained and more experienced in the ways of cyclocross and finished 26th. Either way, no matter how brutal the weather or competition, it was as fun as ever, and a great way to cap off an incredible cycling year.

Here's a teaser photo, and in a few days, I'll have the whole write up and photos posted.

Battleing a Cold to Battle in the Cold.

Achoo. Sniffle. Sneeze. Achoo. Ugh...

Oy Vey! I've got a cold. A nose running, power-sneezing, worn-down feeling cold. I've gone through a whole box of tissues today, probably a whole tree's worth of Kleenex. Either way, I'm self-medicating with lots of sleep, hot chocolate, and that most Jewish of medicines - Chicken Soup. Luckily, there's all of one kosher restaurant here in DC, and it is right near my office, so The Complete Jewish Cyclist can stroll over during lunch for a bowl.

Final 'cross race of the season is this Sunday, the Capitol Cross Classic in Reston, VA. Looks like it's gonna be real cold, and maybe some snow on the ground, but after an intense season focused solely on riding and racing cyclocross, it all comes down to this. Afterwards, I hang up the bikes for a month (maybe) and focus on other things, starting with a season review and our first installment the bikes of the New Jewish Peleton, starting with of Niel Fiet's sweet new Specialized Roubaix Comp.

In the meantime, it's off to bed I go to flush out this nasty little cold so that I can bring the pain (to somebody else's legs) this Sunday.

Oy!

Just a little more Tacchino...

...The real Tacchino, that is.

And with that, Happy Thanksgiving ("Yom HaMo'edim" to all of you Hebrewphiles).

As for The Complete Jewish Cyclist, he took a back seat to his wife, whom today became The Complete Jewish Runner, busting out a very respectable 10k early in the morning. I was thinking about doing the run myself, but didn't want to risk some nasty running injury like a shin splint with just one week to go until the Capitol 'Cross race in Reston. Besides, can you picture a cyclocrosser like me doing a family fun 10K? It would be all fun and games until the gun goes off and I start elbowing and shoving people to get a good line into the first corner.

Also, cheering fans are way more fun at 'cross races than at running races. Fans at a running race call out a delightful "you can do it - go go go!". Compare that to the abuse a 'cross fan can dish out; "C'mon, get on that wheel - take him man, make your move - HUP HUP HUP!".

Yes, if I'm running, there better be a bike on my shoulder and a muddy ground with barriers underneath.

Then I prepared the stomach with a strong afternoon training ride, busting out a fast thirty miler with a good deal of climbing and fast, big chainring riding. Had a great moment when I passed a kid on a BMX bike. About a few moments later he sprinted past me, fell behind, and did it again. He turned out to be the Maryland State BMX champion - an fast rider and a nice guy. I told him I'd better see him in the next Olympics. When you read about how much power those guys can generate on a BMX bike, don't underestimate that - those guys can crank. Want proof? Consider the exploits of two former BMXers; Robbie McGewan and Sven Nys.

So we finished off the day feasting on all sorts of hearty and heavy, yet kosher fare. We had the traditional Thanksgiving turkey, plus the traditional Jewish brisket. Nothing dairy, but we did have some awesome parve desserts and finished it off with some good single malt scotch and some strong coffee.

'Nuff said. I'm a bit fat now. I'll burn if all off next week when I throw down some training rides in advance of the Capitol 'Cross.

2008 Tacchino Ciclocross

Damn it was cold this morning!

And since it was a cyclocross race, damn it was fun!

And fun is indeed a great way to describe this race put on by the folks at Squadra Coppi. This Italiancentric racing club, based in Arlington, VA, and named after the famed "Il Campionissimo" himself - Fausto Coppi - the Coppi team once a year brings an Italian flair to this very Belgian sport. Italian for "Turkey Cyclocross" to honor the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday, this late-season race in is fun event giving a bit of a break to the racers who are near the end of a very serious season of racing.

Held in scenic Ida Lee Park in beautiful Leesburg, Virignia at the base of the Catoctin Mountains, the Tacchino Ciclocross presents a challenging course to the riders. The front side of the course included long paved straights before diving into a field of tight corners, gravel and grass stretches, one dismount barrier, and a series of sharp ups-and-downs in rapid succession to test the strength and bike handling skills of the riders.

And of course, there was fun. As always, the big Turkey stuffed into a Squadra Coppi kit (no, really, some guy dresses up in a big turkey suit) was on the course to humor and taunt the riders. Nothing like trying to get a laugh from a guy who's searing lungs are one breath away from explosion. And The Complete Jewish Cyclist got some recognition today also! The primes included a suitcase of meats originally billed as "The Suitcase of Sausage", but redubbed as "The Jason Pearlman Memorial Hebrew National Prime" on account of the somewhat kosher Hebrew National Franks mixed into a prize basket of obviously not kosher fare of bacon and sausage. The "Memorial" was soon dropped after it was discovered that I was not actually dead. I didn't win any primes today, but the Unholy Roleur himself, Jim, charged me with walking the suitcase itself - one of those metal secure attaches complete with handcuffs - over to the organizers table. Still, it was nice to hear me name over the loudspeaker, though next time I'm gonna go for something more like "Jason Pearlman is tearing this field to pieces without mercy".

And, of course, there was racing to be done.

The start of the Men's Cat. 4 race was at 9:00 AM under cold blue skies and air set at a cool 30 degrees. I opted for knee warmers and a simple base layer under my Team Bike Rack kit, in addition to doubling up on socks and gloves. I held at the rear of the field on the first lap, avoiding the falls. Working myself midway into the field with three to go, I defended my position while avoiding one of the many riders who went down in front of me on the backside of the course on the tight corners leading into the climbs and descents. I moved up some more with two to go, lost two vital placings after that, but then surged to take over one rider on the last lap to get myself into 20th position. After finishing 44th here last year and not on the lead lap, this year's race was a big improvement, and many thanks as always go out to my family for their support, my friends for their encouragement, the Bike Rack DC for helping me get into 'cross, and HaShem for bringing me to this point.

'Nuff said. Here are some pictures of the day. Apologies for not having too many pictures this time. I took off after the results were posted, and spent the rest of the morning exploring the charming historic downtown of Leesburg with my family, enjoying the warm indoors of the Georgetown Cafe and the quaint shops along the mainstreet.

Early in the race, joining into a group as the field begins to string out. I'm sitting just behind the Bike Lane rider in red and black.

Sitting on the wheel of a Bike Lane rider, waiting for the right point on the course to make a move.

Last lap now, into 20th position and fighting to keep my position after pacing a rider just a few moments earlier.

"The Suitcase of Sausage", which on raceday became the "Jason Pearlman Hebrew National Prime", awarded to the riders leading certain laps. The only possible kosher meat of note here are the Hebrew National Franks. Hebrew National is now certified kosher by the Triangle-K under the auspices of Rabbi Ralbag, head of Kehilat B'nai Yisrael in New York City, himslef having learned at Yeshivat Etz Chiam and the legendary Yeshivat Mercaz HaRav (pretty awesome things to have associated with a prime sprint in a cold field in northern Virginia).

The Unholy Roleur himself, Jim, is an incredibly friendly guy, and no MABRA/MAC race is complete without his prescence. Big thanks to him today on injecting this race with some good humor, even if it led to my friends taking the joke further that the wieners were circumcised (hey, if you want a deadly serious tone, go to a road race; if you want fun, hang out at a 'cross race). And of course, big props to Jim and the Squadra Coppi for once again putting on an incredible race and a great day for the MABRA/MAC cyclocross scene.

Dude, Seriously, Update Your Blog (Part 2)!

Oy!

Life can get very busy, even for The Complete Jewish Cyclist. I'll admit to right now to not being the most prolific and productive blogger out there. OK, so here are my excuses:

1. I'm knee-deep in the cyclocross season. Granted, this is only a six-race season for me, but a lot of training has gone into this season, and it continues this Sunday with the Tacchino Ciclocross. I finished something like 42nd here last year, but this season has been going well, with consistent top-thirty finishes and a dip into the top-20 with a 19th place at DCCX. I just need to keep the focus and concentration going, and still remember to have a good time because cyclocross is pure madness - the most painful fun you can have on a bike. After that race comes the season-finale; The Capitol Cross in Reston, VA.

2. The temperature is dropping here in the Mid-Atlantic region, but the Bike Rack DC Sunday morning shop ride still goes on. When I'm not racing 'cross, I'm on this awesome ride, even into the cold weather.

3. With the cold weather and short days, I'm only getting in one, maybe two commutes to work a week. I love cycling and this has been an awesome season for me, but I'm just looking forward to finishing it on a high note and finishing it. I've hit most of my goals for the year, so now I'm concentrating on placing as high as possible in these last two races for the year.

4. And of course; family, friends, and work. No to demean any of those - I'm very thankful for all of them B"H. Still, they command a lot of time, which means that velo time is limited, and that time is best spent pushing pedals and not computer keyboards.

That's all for now. Thanks for taking the time to read this post, and all of the other posts, and for those closer to me, thanks for being patient and understanding of my cycling lifestyle. Don't worry - in just a few weeks time, I can go out on a Saturday night instead of staying home to shave my legs and prep the bikes and gear for a Sunday-morning hammerfest on the roads and in the fields (the latter usually requires a 5:00AM wake up call).

Enough with the words. Blog posts without pictures suck. Here's the rear derailleur on my road bike:

Cold Morning Commutes

A true cyclist is not a fair-weather cyclist. After the summer fades, warm breezes give way to cool winds; blue skies turn grey, and the foliage loses its green lushness revealing skeletal forests, a more defined community of cyclists take command of the roads and trails. They are known by many names, but most common are terms like "hard-core roadies", "cyclocrossers", and "die-hard commuters".


They're also called "nuts", "crazy", and "ridiculous", but the cycling world is sustained over the off-season by these riders, and for these particular riders, thier cycling lives become sustained by riding well into the weeks and months when many a rider has traded bikes for skis or simply a saddle and waterbottle for a couch and mug of hot chocolate.



Such are things I think about when riding to work on cold autumn mornings. Yesterday's commuting weather was in the upper 30s with relentless cool breezes, the kind that present a wall of resistance to a hard working rider and slices through all forms of cycling clothing, no matter how technologically advanced. I could simply take the Metro train to work, sit in a cushy seat, read the paper, and nod off in a heated car watching a cold, morning world blur by.


But I can't. I race cyclocross. I have two races left this season. I still need to be training, still need to be pursuing top results for myself and my team, Bike Rack DC. This season began January 1st, and after 2500 miles of training, many in the form of my morning and evening commutes, it's nearly over but not over yet. The Tacchino Ciclocross in Leesburg, VA and the Capitol Cross in Reston, VA, are the final objectives for me this year, and I plan to max this season out to the very end. I've turned my commutes into training rides; nine miles door-to-door became 20 miles of speedwork here, 30 miles of intervals there, and still more after work in the form of strength training or hill work. For me, these lonely rides on frigid mornings late in the year as as crucial as warm summer commutes at the height of July.

With that in mind, I took one final look at the weather, and matched the right layers of clothing to 37 degrees with a cool northwest wind. Truth be told, I enjoy cool weather riding. While warm sun on skin is a wonderful feeling during the dog days of summer, being bundled up in layers of lycra, polypropeline, and wool has an enjoyable coziness all its own. And as a single speed commuter, I can wear the thickest, warmest gloves possible since I don't need to worry about tapping at small shifter paddles tucked behind a brake lever. So with backpack stuffed and bottles filled (hydrating is as important on cold mornings as it is on warm afternoons; you can cramp in either one), I rolled out.


Hitting the road midweek in the early hours of a cold day is a very different feeling than a Sunday midsummer ride. The blast of cold is evident immediately, though the warming efforts of a strong ride are incentive enough to go hard. That's just the physical factor, but the psycological factor is a much bigger element; the bike paths and roads look, seem, and feel much more deslolate. There is a feeling of loneliness, vunerability. But then it pans out to this; in this solitude, cycling is not longer "hip", "trendy", or "popular". Withouth the fair-weather masses and warm weather buzz, this is when cycling becomes real. In solitude on rides like this, the cyclist is just that; not lost in a crowd, but blatently identified. At this point - mid-November on a cold weekday morning - the riding is the product of, the show of serious love and passion for the sport, a commitment to this lifestyle, which at times has people labeling us as "nuts", "crazy", or "ridiculous".

Good News on the Kosher Cycling Front

Now that the season is winding down, I have a chance to start relaxing a little and give some thought to next year (can't relax too much though - I still have two 'cross races to do). One objective is helping grow the presence of kosher athletes in the energy supplement market. While there are plenty of supplements on the market, very few are kosher. Luckily, a few such as Hammer Nutrition, Clif, and now CeraSport offer products with kosher certifications such as the OU (Orthodox Union), Kof-K, and the CRC (Chicago Rabbinical Council).

I have a few forthcoming postings which will focus on kosher energy products. OK, I know posts about energy products are not as exciting as subjects like blingtastic carbon super-bikes or Euro-cool cycling action, but in the end, nothing is sweeter than a good ride experience, and supplements help add to the experience. And for the kosher cyclist, this will help you know what's out there and how they can help you in pursuit of everything such as crushing the competition at the local 'cross races, besting your personal century time, or simply surviving that little bit more on the next Sunday morning ride.

And yes, there will be pictures, because cycling blog postings without pictures suck.