Off Season
The autumnal setting sun stepped behind an oak tree, casting a fallen shadow that chilled my mud covered body. The racing uniform's mud shield hardened into a warrior's armor of earthen shin guards, chest plate, and with textured facial splatter from following far too many wheels around the semi-rural racing track of the Hillsboro Fair Grounds sprinking into my gear bag as a towel was rummaged for...
Yeah, that sort of writing makes me barf a little bit, too.
Last weekend wrapped up the Cross Crusade series, finally, but I say that not because racing had lost its luster...some weekends it was a blast, but some weekends...well, I'd rather have gone down to Eugene and enjoyed a Sunday mountain biking on the McKenzie River Trail. Its almost winter, so that's not happening for awhile.
So consider this mud in your eye...
vs. this, which is easy on the eyes...
Identifying what your expectations are is crucial when aiming meet your expectations. Brilliant! Amazing, isn't it?
Going into these races, I had none. Just show up and laugh, skid, slide, have a good time. Somehow I always ended up shoulder checking fellow riders in muddy corners. Sorry guys...you should brake less...and I almost feel like I should apologize for winning the series, too. I haven't even paid Oregon taxes yet, but this will be my second winter here, so that should count toward being a mossy Oregonian, shouldn't it?
Being a father and bringing mini-sager out to the races has been a blast, if not a giant learning curve and adjustment in details and priorities. Gone are the pre and post-race shenanigans of hanging out, riding to the race (or warming up for that matter), sharing war stories, or lingering in a field on a Sunday afternoon (unless Shep's with you and hides the car key under his rear wheel in the roof rack, while the car's torn to pieces looking for it...for an hour).
Its in and out, quickly, and that identified a bit of what so clearly is an intrinsic part of the racing experience.
Socializing.
Competing, this Fall at least, didn't really matter to me. That being said, I'm quite fortunate to have been able to participate in such a well renowned 'cross series and scene, much less to have been able to do it amidst the depth of competition Portland is known for.
Yeah, that sort of writing makes me barf a little bit, too.
Last weekend wrapped up the Cross Crusade series, finally, but I say that not because racing had lost its luster...some weekends it was a blast, but some weekends...well, I'd rather have gone down to Eugene and enjoyed a Sunday mountain biking on the McKenzie River Trail. Its almost winter, so that's not happening for awhile.
So consider this mud in your eye...
vs. this, which is easy on the eyes...
Identifying what your expectations are is crucial when aiming meet your expectations. Brilliant! Amazing, isn't it?
Going into these races, I had none. Just show up and laugh, skid, slide, have a good time. Somehow I always ended up shoulder checking fellow riders in muddy corners. Sorry guys...you should brake less...and I almost feel like I should apologize for winning the series, too. I haven't even paid Oregon taxes yet, but this will be my second winter here, so that should count toward being a mossy Oregonian, shouldn't it?
Being a father and bringing mini-sager out to the races has been a blast, if not a giant learning curve and adjustment in details and priorities. Gone are the pre and post-race shenanigans of hanging out, riding to the race (or warming up for that matter), sharing war stories, or lingering in a field on a Sunday afternoon (unless Shep's with you and hides the car key under his rear wheel in the roof rack, while the car's torn to pieces looking for it...for an hour).
Its in and out, quickly, and that identified a bit of what so clearly is an intrinsic part of the racing experience.
Socializing.
Competing, this Fall at least, didn't really matter to me. That being said, I'm quite fortunate to have been able to participate in such a well renowned 'cross series and scene, much less to have been able to do it amidst the depth of competition Portland is known for.
posted by jsager at 6:58 AM
1 Comments:
it's nice to see the pros with the same problems as the rest of us, I can't remember the last time I socialized at a race, with a family and far too many other responsibilities there just isn't time for everything. Enjoy your family it is far more important than the bike.
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