Race Cyclocross!

One of my earliest lessons when I began riding off road was to stay loose. “Don’t grip the bars and brakes so tight; your fingers should drape over the controls, not crush them.”

My first “cross ride” of the year was earlier this week and I could hear this advice in my head as I glided through a loose, rocky, downhill corner. Feeling the bike dance underneath me was like getting re-aquainted with a past lover, frightening and comfortable at the same time.

Since those early days I’ve graduated from college, swapped careers back and forth, lost and found meaningful relationships, and even gone back to school in search of the ultimate. A lot of times I feel like I’m drifting off my line. Occasionally I need to steer things back to center. Whenever I try to over correct though, I risk a mouthful of gravel.

The big spectacle is just around the corner. You’ve been preparing since January, priming your legs with hundreds of hours and miles of single track. Every year it’s an uphill battle on the cross course. For every two guys you out-trained, three more trained smarter than you. More hill repeats. If you work harder, the fitness will come. This time though, don’t just pay attention to the burning in your thighs and throbbing of your heart in your ears, see if you can move your fingers. With your mouth gasping for air, maybe you can even feel your relaxed lower lip dangling and loose. You can’t control every move effectively so make the important ones count.

Photos by Chris Brandt