The Other Elite Junior - An Ian McShane Primer

December 17, 2013

Amid the rustle and bustle of those chosen for EuroCrossCamp XI and the blogs and posts and fundraising, we find Ian McShane.  Riding among the elite talent of the OVCX is our own little sleeper.  If you didn't know he was there, you might not know he was there.  But make no mistake, the second you forget he is there, he'll make you regret it.

Ian racing at 2013 Mudfund

Ian is a mystery to most, even to me sometimes.  I attribute that to his being a teenage boy, but I also blame it on his personal need for privacy. Besides his sister, I am the loudest thing in his life and heaven forbid I scream his business to the World.

What I do know about Ian is that he is witty and nobody's fool.  To him things are black or white, right or wrong.  There is no in between.  And the boy can ride a bike.  He has had a share of success already on the road and in cyclocross, but if he would seriously follow Curtis's plan, he could be scary good.  When he decides to really buckle down, watch out. 

My favorite part of Ian is off the bike.  You haven't really experienced him until you've seen his "Blue Steel", made him blush (which is easy) or laughed at his impersonation of SNL's Debbie Downer "You know they never did catch that Anthrax guy..."  

When I asked around today for people to give me one word that describes him I was heart-warmed by what I heard.  I got responses like:  well-mannered, funny, balanced, unassuming, committed, quiet, determined, shy, talented, sweet, quietly confident.  From those that he races with and against I heard:  baller, flamboyant, sexy, pimp, idol, brother, underrated - obviously a different crowd.

But the word I heard most of all was this one:  Humble.  As one of his former teammates wrote me, "Humility is tough to find in cycling, and seeing Ian display that with so much success and potential is truly aspiring."  Forget the bike, my job here is done.

Ian and all the friends he has made from across the country.

I wanted the public to hear from Ian himself, but getting him to write something was a no-go - he's not big on calling attention to himself - so I did an interview with him before he left for Belgium and asked all kinds of in-depth questions about life and racing.  It was going to be awesome, but then I didn't save the file and it was lost, but I do remember some of his answers because they surprised even me.

* He doesn't have a favorite European CX racer.
* His favorite domestic CX racer to watch is Zach McDonald because of the way he handles his bike.
* His new do is based on Marcel Kittel's hair.
* He digs Challenge Tires a lot, especially the Chicanes.
* He feels his greatest weakness on the cross bike is accelerations.
* He hopes to work for ZIPP Speed Weaponry someday.  Brady Kappius's line of work with carbon inspired him.
* He will be racing for Bissell-ABG-Giant on the road this coming year and looks forward to it.
* His favorite breakout moment on a bike this year wasn't his 3rd place at TT Natz, winning a Kermis in Belgium or being on the podium at MudFund, it was making the break in the Pro1/2 field at the McDonald's Frankfort Crit.  He felt like that race started it all for him.
* His goal at ECXC is to do well.  "Why not top 10 as a goal?"  He tells me everybody wants to win or has the goal of finishing top 10 or top 20, but a lot of times it is up to fitness AND luck.  He says he wants to finish every race knowing he has done everything he can to have had the best race possible, whether that is a win, top 10 or higher.
* He looks forward to representing the USA at Zolder the most.
* He knows his performance at camp will affect whether he will be selected to race at the World Championships and is ready to give it a real run.
* It makes him nervous that people have donated money to help him get to ECXC.  When I asked him if that puts more pressure on him he said "yes" and that he just wants to make everyone proud.
* "My Favorite Things" is his least favorite Christmas song, but then in full falsetto, he and Mike break out into their own version...

"When my bike breaks, when my skin bleeds, when my tires go soft... I simply remember my favorite things and then I don't get...so pissed off!!!"

Marcel Kittel

Ian McShane

I hope to keep everyone updated as EuroCrossCamp continues.  The selection for ECXC XI was goal number one and I know secretly he wants to make as much of a mark on Belgium as possible.  Stay tuned to www.eurocrosscamp.com to updates from the camp itself.  And look for Ian's assigned blog on cyclingnews.com on January 1st.  But most of all, keep your fingers crossed for luck, good legs and lots of fun.

Love you!

"Congratulations" is sometimes the scariest word...

November 21, 2013

We had been waiting for it.  Since 2007.  But most immediately, most furiously in the last week.  And then there it was...

"Ian, Congratulations! You've been selected for EuroCrossCamp XI. The camp now has a decade-long history of providing developmental experience and world's preparation for top American cyclocross riders. Your selection is the result of your hard work, strong character, and good results this season."

It's a feeling of excitement that bubbles from your chest to your throat and then makes you heady.  You read it again.  Yep.  There it is.

Oh Shit.  There it is.

Ian is still heady.  He is honored and excited because it is quite a comeback after his disappointing result at Cyclocross Nationals last year.  I know he is looking forward to returning to Belgium where he spent a few successful weeks this summer.  He has quietly been working on his fitness, his technique, staying in the shadows of all that has been going on around him and putting his own mark on the UCI Junior Podium at the Mudfund Derby City Cup.  The best part has been seeing him enjoy the company of all those he is racing against.  Growing up.

As for me, you want the absolute best for your kids and an email saying he wasn't selected would have been devastating, but an email saying that he has been selected opens up a whole new reality.  Now we've got to get him there and that will be no small feat.  I've been raising money for years to get the likes of Drew Dillman, Luke Haley and John Francisco to EuroCrossCamp, but this is different.  Asking for donations for other people is not always hard.  Asking people for donations for your own kid is.  It just is.

Luckily, we have wonderful sponsors in Sophisticated Living and Bob's Red Mill that are lending a financial hand as well as a scholarship from Tim Johnson's Mudfund and a split from the #endoftheworlds party that my partner in crime, Marcia Seiler and I put together last February.  Drew Dillman and Gavin Haley will also be benefiting from that most awesome and incredible fundraising effort.

But we have a bit more to go and so I racked my brain on a productive way to raise funds that benefit more than just Ian.  I am all about local and so starting tomorrow, we will be selling 36 oz tubs of frozen Kizito Cookie Dough of all flavors through December 6th.  The cost of each tub is $12 and a dollar from each sale will be donated back to the Salvation Army in their time of fundraising this Christmas season.  I call this a win - win - win scenario.  Orders for cookie dough will be taken in person or via a paypal link that we will be posting tomorrow morning.

Our goal is to sell 250 tubs (or more) to be delivered the week of December 16th.  While I expect most sales will come from the Louisville area, I am planning to make a delivery run to the Cincinnati area and to the Frankfort area as well.  Shipping orders will not be possible at this time.

In addition, The McShane family will be doling out Bob's Red Mill oatmeal and fixings for donations at the last two OVCX races - Promotion Cross in Lexington and the Brookside OVCX finale.  Again, a win for everyone.

It has truly been an incredible cyclocross season so far.  EuroCrossCamp is but another experience that will help shape who Ian is becoming as a bike racer and as a man.  And beyond that, it is not outside the realm of possibility that a World Championship selection could fall on him.  All I can tell him is to "GO FOR IT".  When and if it happens we'll cross that bridge.  For now, "HUP HUP" boy!

For all things EuroCrossCamp, visit www.eurocrosscamp.com.  The official announcement and roster should be forthcoming next week.  Congrats also to Ian's former teammates Drew Dillman and Gavin Haley for receiving ECC invites as well.  The benefit of the seeds sown so long ago never ceases to amaze me.

The Other Side

October 16, 2013

I haven't written in a year for several reasons.  My last post received both good and bad comments, but as other bloggers may attest, one really scathing, threatening personal message is all it takes sometimes to make you say "Screw It!"  So I did.  All CX season.  All Road season.

But I'm back.  Not because I have anything great to share, but because I miss writing.  It is therapeutic and allows me to work things out in black and white.  My memory also sucks and so it gives me record to go back to and say "Aha!  That's right.  That's what was going on."

So here's what's going on...

After many years of watching Mike race at the top elite levels and Ian working his way up from the 10-12 year old category, their roles have changed.  Ian now races at the top elite level and Mike is settling into his 45+ age category knowing that next year he ages up to the 50+ category.  I think it's a tough pill for Mike, not that Ian is racing at a higher level than him, but that he is old enough to have to move to the side to let Ian pass him.  And he has graciously relinquished the elite race, so that he can support Ian.  Ian is oblivious to what his dad is going through, but he should be.  He has put in the years and where once beating his dad was the goal, he has reached that goal and has to set new ones.  Some day he'll pay it forward to his own kids.

Mike at Edwardsville CX 2003-2004?

Mike at BloomingCross 2013

For an athlete, getting older sucks.  Who am I kidding - getting older sucks for everyone.  As they say, youth is wasted on the young.  My young right now has finally reached the 17-18 category where a UCI license is required and there is the possibility of being selected to race in Europe at EuroCrossCamp and/or to be selected to represent the USA at the CX World Championships.  We have mentally prepared for this for a long time.  More so than road, we have seen a long line of our friends and former teammates go through these ranks.  First it was Clayton Omer and Andrew Llewellyn.  Then it was Drew Dillman, John Francisco, Stephen Bassett and Luke Haley.  Now it's Ian and former teammate, Gavin Haley's turn to vie for one of those spots.  And it won't be easy.  The cyclocross talent in this country grows every year.

Ian Racing CX in 2006

Ian Racing in 2009

Ian Racing in 2013

The McShane gang had our first junior UCI race experience in Providence, Rhode Island a few weeks ago.  I was injured, Mike was injured and Ian's weekend was full of mechanicals, but we got those UCI nerves out of the way.  Now we are headed into the greatest part of the OVCX season here in the midwest.  Cincy3 weekend followed by the Mudfund Derby City Cup weekend are coming up the first two weekends in November.  Both have junior UCI races, a blessing for all those that live within driving distance.  But it all kicks off with the Storm Eva Sunday, October 27th, a cyclocross homecoming of sorts.  Less pressure, more fun, complete with Halloween costumes and prizes.  It's the calm before the storm and we look forward to kicking back with friends and beers on our home course.

Life is unfurling quickly.  Ian is a junior and the rush to college is on.  The days are moving faster, the quest for a high ACT score is real.   The days left to train to race to one of those selections are dwindling.  You are never prepared for all this to start happening.  You think you are, but you aren't.

But I'm not going to worry about all that right now.  I've got bigger things to think about.  What costume AM I going wear for Storm Eva??  I've got some planning to do!  I hope to see you all out there.

L

To Upgrade or Not To Upgrade, That is the Question...

October 3, 2012

Well, THAT didn't take long...
It happens every year and this year it only took 2 races for the discussion to begin.  Because I have been with the leadership of Red Zone Cycling for 6 years, I hear it every year.  So I guess I shouldn't have been surprised, but now my kid is in the group being discussed.

Mitch Graham and other powers that be spend a lot of time taking into consideration all of the issues that come up with the OVCX and the scheduling issues.  The day is only so long and everyone wants their own category, so compromise must be reached.

Before I go on, below are some of the recent comments on the OVCX Facebook page.  I think these discussions are important, but I do want to address some of the issues raised:


"Your U19 categories aren't recognized by USAC or u23 so of they are crushing the field in those categories, by USAC rules they have mandatory upgrades for them to the next level. It's not fair for a legit cat3 or cat4 that wants to get upgrade points to upgrade if a kid that has the points to upgrade is taking them week after week and year after year."

"High Level USAC coaches coach cat 3's? I'm not saying that they should be forced to race with the elites, I'm just saying that the U19's, not the juniors that race with the 4's, clearly need their own race or some other race than the cat 3 wave because they're clearly not cat 3's."

"I'm not just Cat3 pack filler complaining about wanting points. I am racing for top 5s in the wave and Cat3 poduims, and Im fine racing against the U19 Elites that are beating me every week. They could easily hold thier own in the elites but make the Cat3 race competitive also. I dont think anyone is calling Jr's baggers for winning, but when there is an appearance that they are riding in a field that clearly offers no challenge to them and are preceived as taking away from the experience of other riders, it's worth talking about. Just because some are questioning if the system is working to keep thing fair doesn't mean we're hating."

"I'm not hating. I've seen the same juniors in the same categories for YEARS with mandatory upgrade points for years. Since USAC doesn't recognize the categories their are racing in for OVCX, they are taking away upgrade point from guys that are: married, with kids of their own, work full time jobs and want to do well. I am all in favor of supporting junior programs and I have had the privilege of being there for someone that didn't have the benefit of the LVV junior programs BUT the juniors results are listed on USAC under the cat 3 or cat4 results NOT a junior race."

"Perhaps one can ask why a U19 category even exists? Either you're a cat 3 or a cat 2 (or a cat 1). It just seems like this year the U19's are all talented enough to be racing the elites. (which is a great thing)."    


I cannot speak for any other junior other than my own, but here is where I stand on the issue:

Cycling is my son's sport.  Cyclocross is his passion.  There is not a high school league for him to race in.  Our local scene is his league.  He has been at it since he was 9 years old and just like in any sport where you pass through each level to the next, he has followed those rules; first as a 10-12 year old, then a 13-14 year old, then a Cat 4 and now as a Cat 3.  He is currently racing in the U19 category and is a Cat 3.  As I type he does NOT have the points to be given a mandatory upgrade.  But he will have those points soon and it has been the topic in our house what to do at that point.  Keep in mind that he is just 15 years old.  Even if he is given a mandatory upgrade, he is still able to race in the U19 category.  That is the elite category for his age group. 

Everyone wants to do well.  Ian wants to do more than that.  He wants to take this sport to the next level.  He wants to race in college.  He wants to race in places that the rest of us can only dream of.  And to do those things, we have to be smart about his rise through the ranks.

Ian had some top 10 finishes in the Cat 3s last year.  With another year under the belt and more miles in his legs, he has really come on at the beginning of this season.  Riding well?  Yes.  Elite men material?  Maybe.  But what would happen if he upgraded and decided to race the Elite men and the additional 15-20 minutes at CX pace.  Would he physically and mentally be able to handle that pressure?  It is a giant decision to make, because he, after all, is still just a kid.  People are scouring the lap times and yes, at 40 minutes, these kids might finish top 15 in the elite category.  But the elite men category goes on for another 20-25 minutes.  No one can say what would happen to these kids in that last 20 minutes.  The worst thing would be to mentally crack these kids.  We want to grow the sport, not turn them away from it. 

High level USAC coaches do recommend that kids race competitively at shorter race lengths.  That is what the USAC has adopted with their own change in race lengths at the national level and that is what is done in Belgium and other European countries.  But what they have that we don't is a greater number of competitive juniors at the same level.  We don't have those numbers in the U19 category here.  We're talking about 6-7 kids, not 50, taking up the finishing positions in the Cat 3 race.

You would be hard pressed to find a junior that has remained in a Cat 4 or Cat 3 category year after year without upgrading.  Every kid I have ever worked with always wants to upgrade.  And they usually do so before they are really ready.  I call BS on that logic.  I find it very unusual that the debate is over upgrade points.  This is the second year of the U19 category.  Before that the juniors were racing just as Cat 4s and Cat 3s and all hell broke loose because the juniors were taking all the prizes and the podium spots.  Hence the 15-18 and the U19 categories were created.  That way the kids got the competition numbers to race against to give them decent points for USAC rankings (which affects their start positions at Nationals) and the Cat 4s and the Cat 3s got their podiums and prizes back. 

Now Cat 3s want the upgrade points, too?  The kids that are currently racing in the U19 category are legitimate Cat 3s and have a right to those points.  My suggestion to the other Cat 3s would be to work for them.  I know plenty of the Elite men and Elite master men that are family guys, with jobs and everyday problems wearing them down, but don't use them as an excuse.  So I know if you really want to do well and upgrade to the Elite level, you can do it.  You can put in the effort.  Trust me, Ian is putting in the hard work and he never goes at just 80%.

Wanting to do well and doing the things that you need to do to actually accomplish it are two different things.  Riding your bike is only part of the equation.  Ian puts in 3-4 mornings in the gym before school starts.  He works his overall body strength, including core.  He stretches to keep his body injury free.  He runs and does bleachers for leg speed.  He makes sure to get plenty of quality sleep.  He manages his recovery intake after workouts and races.  He eats balanced meals and has cut out all crap food that teenagers love.  He listens to his body and makes sure he doesn't get run down.  And I haven't even started on the actual bike workouts.  Being really good at something, even as a weekend warrior, has to be attacked from all sides.  

The other thing I would suggest would be to watch these kids, especially those that have been on a bike for years.  They are beautiful to watch.  Their technique is incredible.  Learn from them and your own lap times will come down.  Our kids here focus on technique, technique, technique.  If you don't have good fundamentals, no amount of power straights on a cyclocross course will help you.

I don't know a single junior, especially those in the U19 category, that would ever turn someone down if they asked for help.  But make no mistake about it, they are there to race and to win.  If there are Cat 3s that seriously want to upgrade to the Elite men level, my advice would be to use these U19s to get faster and prepare yourself for the next level.  If you are competitive with them, then you know you'll be ready for the next level.  I don't think getting an upgrade would be an issue at that point.

So for us, if Ian does upgrade and move up to the Elite Men level it will be because Mike and I think he is ready.  It will be because Ian thinks he is ready.  It will not be because anyone else says he is ready.  That is the bottom line.  Until then, while he might be given a mandatory upgrade, he will stay in the U19 category. 

Le tour de je ne sais quoi

Close your eyes.  Imagine you are 15 years old.  You race bicycles.  You’ve had some success and some failure.  You’re slowly and methodically moving through the junior and category ranks of the sport.  You get an opportunity to participate with others your age in an international stage race, teams representing USA, Canada and other countries.  You are staying with 99 other young men in an “athlete village” and are responsible solely for yourself.  Next, you are on the starting line, your team is ready and the announcer and most of those around you are speaking French.  The countdown, “trois, deux, une” and the gun to signal the start ring in the air.  To me, who grew up in Frankfort only playing softball for the YMCA during the summer, this international dream seems unreal, but Ian got the opportunity this week.

Getting ready for Stage 3 - 80k

Ian on the line

This is normally a CX blog and we will be getting to that later in this post, but let me say how incredible it was to watch not only Ian and his teammates with Borah Development compete in le Tour de la releve international de Rimouski, but all of the other young Americans that we have seen grow up over the last several years kick some international booty.  And if results speak at all, it would say that we have some very strong young competitors moving up in the American ranks.

The sprint for stage 3 win

Emily from Borah Development takes 3rd on stage 3 & 4 and 4th on stage 6

Jonny Brown of Hot Tubes wins the sprinters jersey

Ian didn’t win anything, except for 1 sprint point in the crit – after which the French announcer called his name, which THRILLED his mother.  But we knew going in that this would be a learning experience and it most definitely was for all of us.

Michael Gaines in the crit

Josey Weik in the crit

Alec Porter in the crit

Ian in the Hot Tubes crit train

Ian, Josey and Michael up front

This stage race for 15-16 homme cadets and 15-16 femme cadets and 17-18 femme juniors (15-16 year old men and 15-18  year old women) was no joke.  There were 6 stages in 4 days, including a team time trial, an individual time trial, a criterium and 3 brutal road races between 57 and 80 kilometers with climbs as much as 20% for over 2k.  No aero equipment was allowed (save clip on bars and aero helmets) and gears were restricted to a 52x16 for all 15-16 year olds.  Rims were restricted to 35mm depth.

The peloton and caravan 1/2 way through stage 3

The peleton

Mike riding in the caravan

The view from the feed zone on stage 6

The group coming up the 20% climb and into the feed zone

Michael hanging tough in the group

The race splintering all over the hill

There were 25 teams of 4 equaling 100 starters at the beginning of the 15-16 men’s stage race.  73 finished the whole thing.  Ian finished 44^th overall.  His best finish came in the ITT in which he finished 21^st.  But it was more than the results.  There’s nothing better than this experience to show the strengths and chinks in the armor and what could be done differently to improve the overall outcome for next year. For that reason I am glad Mike and I were there.  Not only that, I’m glad to be an ambassador to tell others what a great experience this was and is for racers this age.

And then there is Ian. Who was that kid that got in my car at the end of the week?   It certainly is not the one that we dropped off at athlete’s village on Tuesday.  Ian raced very well.  He did make some basic tactical racing errors along the way, but I found him so much more grown up by the end of the week.  Not only that, but he made some friends for life.  What a great group of young men and women that made up the Borah team!  Larry Martin did an awesome job of putting together a strong group of incredible young people.  Thanks aren’t enough for what he, Jean and Oscar did for these kids this week.

Ian and his Borah teammates

The Borah group - except for Ian who had gone to take a shower so we could hit the road.

Ian and his promised goodbye hug from Michael

So what’s next?  Cyclocross season starts in one week – for Ian anyway.  He is one of 4 OVCX kids selected to attend Geoff Proctor’s Cyclocross Camp in Helena, Montana the week of July 24^th.  He, Gavin Haley, Drew Dillman and Spencer Petrov will all maneuver themselves by plane to hang with 11 others selected from across the country.  They will be riding in the mountains and elevations above Helena and learning as much as possible from Geoff before we get into the meat of the CX season.  It’s a time to come down from road and refocus on CX.  It’s a time to make even more new friends, ones they will be racing against and with over the next years.

Barely 15, working hard and livin’ the dream…

But alas, reality starts Wednesday.  It is the first day at his first real job.   He’ll be working at Dooley’s Bagels.

CXADMIN

Thank you to all of the Red Zone Cycling and Borah Development sponsors, especially to Clarksville Schwinn and Brian Blackwell for getting Ian’s bike all tuned up and ready to go.  Also thanks to all those that have busted butt and helped get bikes bought and built for CX camp.  It has been a real scramble and it's done just under the wire.

Okay, this blog wouldn’t be complete without a list of French Canadian truths that Mike, Cate and I discovered while vacationing around the stage race…

1.     French Canadians serve French fries with everything.

2.     Gravy is a condiment that comes with almost every meal.

3.     Gas, food and hotels are all very expensive.

4.     They don’t use ice in their drinks.

5.     Tim Horton’s (or Timmy Ho’s as we called it) is a very popular food chain in Canada and is a big hangout for older folks.  It is Canada’s version of McDonalds in the breakfast hours, but all day.

6.     You think you know how to speak French until you go to a French speaking country.  How many times can I say “Je ne pas parle Francais?”  I can still read it though and spent 5 days interpreting signs and menus for both Mike and Cate.

7.     Ice cream shops are very popular.

8.     Starbucks?  Never heard of ‘em.

9.     International Data Roaming is off the charts expensive unless you buy a global plan up front.

10. Have some Canadian money with you, but carry your VISA – it is an international language all it’s own.

11. Never go somewhere without telling your parents or you might end up in a police car.

12.  As Willet told us, whenever anything, anything happens, call the polize.

13.  There is a good craft beer shortage in Quebec.

14.  Gas looks cheap, but then you remember it is sold in litres.

15. The mail does not run on Saturdays at all.

16. The “Empress of Ireland” passenger ship sank near Rimouski 2 years after the Titanic and killed a much higher percentage of people.  Over 1000 of the 1500 passengers perished in the 14 minutes it took to sink.

17.  In Rimouski, the people were very patient and friendly.  Thankfully they spoke more English than we did French.

I am a cycle citizen.

Tuck 'N Run

I wish I could report that Mike had the ride of his life because he threw down the gaunlet and let it all hang out for the win in the Masters Cyclocross Worlds final yesterday.  Well, Mike did have the ride of his life and he did let it all hang out, but he finished 17th on the day.

You know, nothing surprises me anymore.  Despite the ups and downs of the season, I thought Mike had a great chance to finish top 5.  He woke up in a great mood.  I got in a run in with some friends.  Cate cooked breakfast.  Ian walked the dogs without arguing.  This was the day the long season was going to end.  I mean the day that Mike was racing in the finals for a World Championship.  He was on task and got a warm-up on the trainer in the morning.  We got packed up and to the venue on time.  Brian got his bikes and wheels ready.  Mike pre-rode the course and was liking the conditions.  Joe talked strategy while Mike jumped back on the trainer.  We headed to the line.

Warming up in the Team CF tent with Joe and Brian.

Racing in the WORLD Championships!  Now THAT is cool!

Everything is done.  It's just time to do it.  Mike was coming from third row so his work was cut out for him from the start.  The start was okay.  With 5 laps in the race, sitting around 8th for the first lap was good.  Mike looked comfortable although I wanted him to move up a bit.  But he felt okay with the technical riding of the conditions while others in his little group were freaking a bit.

Fred had an incredible season.  He is ready to rumble.

The start.

Mike on the 3rd row on the left of the photo.  Already an obstacle to overcome.

Madman Tim Butler takes the holeshot, but crashes hard right after.

The problem with being in a little group with people freaking is that they will make mistakes that will cost you a good finish and that is what happened to Mike on the second lap.  He was moving up well, still sitting around 7th and a guy crashed on a downhill right in front of Mike.  Because it was muddy and slippery, Mike didn't have any choice but to try to ride through him.  He did and went superman down the hill.  It whacked his bike out and he went from 7th to 25th in 30 seconds.

Mike fighting for position in the first lap.

Mike supermans down the hill.

I was so afraid he would just give it up, but ever the warrior, Mike got a pit and started working his way back up through the field.  His third lap was amazing and he got back up to 18th by the run-up.  He was riding things others were running.  The hometown crowd was incredible and were showing him major love.

Fighting back.

Then it happened.  At the top of the run-up, Mike was riding to the inside of a guy who was running the section and the dude came over on Mike, putting him into the wood stakes stopping him dead.  Mike's handlebars grabbed the stitching of his chamois and ripped them off his body.  Of course I didn't know this at the time.  He kept riding and I noticed that he had a hole in his shorts, but no one said anything.  He had a much slower next lap, slipped back a few spots and I was worried.

Peek-a-boo, I see you!

Through the hometown crowd packed run-up section the next lap I noticed there was extra yelling, pointing, laughing and Mike laughing and yelling back at the crowd.  I couldn't figure out what was up so I ran over to the start/finish straight to yell at him.  "Stop talking to the crowd.  You have a group of 4 right in front of you, there's 1 to go.  GO!"  He looked me dead in the eye and yelled "My junk (sic) is hanging out!"

Boz, Mo and Eric giving Mike some love.

The heckles came fast and furious!

Well, that stopped me dead in my tracks.  It all made sense.  I looked over behind me at the crowd. Some were looking at me and when I went over to them, many confirmed his statement.  But of course we're all bike racers and instead of being disgusted, they all thought it was the greatest thing ever.  I just had to smile and laugh, too.

At that moment I knew the real race was over and I just witnessed the love that everyone had for Mike.  Everyone had respect for him staying out there and finishing.  He told me later that he had contemplated quitting the race when the "wardrobe malfunction" happened.  He said all he kept thinking about were all the Red Zone juniors out on the course cheering him on.  It didn't to seem as bad when he was on the bike, but he said that when he got off to run, including all of those sections where the crowd was the largest, he just had to "tuck and run, tuck and run".

Tim and Marty encouraging Mike to keep riding.

Someone shooting video.  I'm sure we'll see that on YouTube.

I think once he realized he was going to continue, he dug in a little the last lap.  He caught and passed a few guys and ended up crossing the line in 17th.  Luckily Brad Swope had picked up Mike's warmups from the start grid and had pants ready right past the finish line.  Good thing because the media was thick there.

Mike shows the finish line what he's been hiding for 3 laps.

Getting post-race love from our boys.

This is why you should pit.

Local friend Keith Lucas ended up 4th - Great race!

Mike and Brian.  Brian is top-notch!

Marty and the City of Louisville really stepped up - Thanks so much - we had a blast!

The season is OVER!

Since then all I keep thinking of are all the photos and videos we are going to see posted over the next week.  I don't want Mike to be the next "Joey"!  We're going to hear a million of 'em, including Ian's favorite so far about Mike's race down at the "junkyard".  But oh well, such is life.  Many people contemplated afterwards what they would have done in a similar situation.  I heard answers on both sides.  But no question about it, I am proud that Mike just kept going and finished the season with a bang.  Not exactly the kind of bang we were looking for, but a bang nonetheless.

Well that's it for the season folks.  I'll be putting on my RDADMIN hat soon enough.  It has been an incredible season.  I stated in my first post on our way to Sun Prairie, WI back in September that the blog would be a running record when we got to this point and couldn't remember how we got here.  I would never have believed half of the things that have happened to us over the last six months unless I read them written in this blog over the months.

I can't sign off without thanking all the people that have made this season possible, endurable and memorable.  So many names of sponsors, supporters and friends.  Bob's Red Mill, Challenge Tires, Stevens Bikes, Mad Alchemy, Panache Clothing, Sinclair all on the sponsorship front.  And of course, Joe Collins Coaching, Brian Blackwell and Clarksville Schwinn, Mike Purvis and Work It Out, Drew Hartman and On Your Left Cycles, Wayne Simon and Enzo's, Joan Hanscom, Bruce Fina and the best CX series - USGP.  Then of course our own families, as well as our Bob's Red Mill, Red Zone Cycling and Texas Roadhouse cycling families.  To all of our friends that we have made along the way, thank you for making this sport fun for all of us.  And last, but not least, a special shout out to all of our close friends that have supported us all along the way.  There are just too many of you to mention, but my heartfelt thanks for all the love.

Till next season ya'll, I'm tuck'n and run'n.

L

PS - This is what I love about working with juniors.  Professional ice runner, Luke Haley, testing the ice.  See the following series of photos.

Don't do it.

Don't do it.

Awwww....he did it.

Yep, there is water under this ice.

I bet it's cold.  What's your exit strategy?

No sympathy, just lots of laughter.