Cyclocross World Championships

While I didn't do any cyclocross racing this year (I needed a break from racing, and some time to concentrate on training) I think it is probably the most fun style of bike racing out there and I still followed the top European races. About a week ago the Cyclocross World Championships were held in Belgium (the epicenter of cyclocross). The Belgian team had seven riders and went 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 . . . every Belgian finished before anyone else, an incredibly dominating performance, and from reading the race reviews it didn't even seem like they worked together (which would have been hard with how sandy that course was), they just rode faster than everyone else.  Neils Albert who hadn't had a good season so far made his season by winning the World Championships. For anyone that enjoys cyclocross and what's really not to like: both beer and yelling are ENCOURAGED, the World Championships in 2013 will be in Louisville Kentucky.

Here's a few links that I thought were good:

Video Highlights (see how many spectators there are)

Pictures and Recap/Results

Neils Albert's Manager saying he shouldn't have to split his price money. The Belgian agree to split the price money equally between all the racers. Albert's manager said that since his team didn't help him (Albert rode off the front on lap one and was never challenged) that he shouldn't have to split the price money. I agree that his team didn't do much (if anything to help him), but it looks really bad to split the price money like it had been agreed upon before hand, especially when the price money pales in comparison to the sponsorship oportunies Albert will get as a result of winning. 

Review: Specialized XC Light Weight Grip

Specialized XC Light Weight Grip

Let me first say I've never been happy with any of the grips I've ever used on my mountain bike, I've used soft, hard, thin, thick, ergo, round, textured and smooth, and never said "I'm happy with these grips."  Some have been better, some worse, but nothing I thought was good.  As a result I'd be ok with something that was just passable, and what works for me might not work for others.

I tried these grips because they're light (really f--ing light, claimed weight 12 grams), when I weighed them they came up at 9 or 10 on our scale and cheap . . . $10.  How often in cycling can you get light and inexpensive in the same product. . . not often, and usually with bad results.

I couldn't be happier with grips: 
-they're more comfortable than anything I've ever used (which isn't necessarily saying much in my case as earlier mentioned)
-they don't slip
-they're plenty grippy with gloves (haven't tried without glove, but I think they'd be fine)
-they're light
-they're cheap
-did I mention they're light AND cheap

The only small issues I can see/have seen with the grips are:
-they're relatively hard to put on (if you don't have an air compressor, pay your local shop the $5 or $10 to put them on for you, it'll be money well spent; I promise.
-they probably won't last too long. . . they're light and made out of foam, but hey they're only $10

If you are a weight weenie about your mountain bike or a competive racer I think you HAVE to try these out, you might not like them but even if they are just ok, you'll be hard pressed to find a less expensive way to make your bike lighter.

They come in two sizes: small and medium (I'm using the mediums and would recommend those unless you like your grips really thin).

Winter Short Track Race 3 BikeSouce Team Recap

Expert Men
3rd Matt Moosa
7th Bobby Bryson
11th Chad Hollingsworth
12th Chris Audet

Sport Men 19-39
3rd Jake Arthur
19th Julius Ulanday
20th John Hennessy

Sport Men 40+
15th Wayne Holden

Clydesdale
1st Ryan Kelley

Expert/Sport Women
8th Rebecca Bubp

Single Speed
6th Daniel Lenis

Congratulations to Ryan "Coach" Kelley on his win in the Clydesdale division.

Full Results with team names
Full Results with fastest laps

Report Card Results 1/9 - 1/22

Swimming: B-

Biking: C+

Running: C

Other: C+

Overall: C+

I was actually a really good two week block of training, I didn’t get in any long bike rides (but I’ll me making up for some of that during the two week period I’m in now), but other than that I did really well at making sure I did the key workouts on my schedule.  I may also have to change some of the grading scales, they're very reasonable by themselves, but not when you factor in the other workouts.

Winter Short Track Race 2 BikeSouce Team Recap

Expert Men
1st Matt Moosa
5th Chad Hollingsworth

Sport Men 19-39
12th Jake Arthur

Clydesdale
3rd Ryan Kelley

Expert/Sport Women
6th Rebecca Bubp

Single Speed
8th Daniel Lenis

Congratulations Matt on your excellent win.

Full Results with team names
Full Results with fastest laps
Team Standings

ASU-NCRC VO2Max Test and Body Composition

Yesterday I went to Kannapolis for the first of several visits to participate in a study looking at the effectiveness of a juice during strenuous exercise.  The study is at the ASU-NCRC Human Performance Lab.  This first visit was a baseline to get our body fat percentage and our VO2max to determine the intensity of the cycling portion of the study.  After reviewing the protocol for the rest of the return visits for study Dustin had me get in the Bod Pod (looks like a little space capsule) which is a calculates your body fat and resting metabolic rate.  From there I went to the “fun” part of the session:  the VO2max test.  For this you get on an exercise bike (with your pedal and saddle position), it is initially set to 150 watts, every 2 minutes the number of watts you have to pedal increases 25 watts.  To start out with it’s not bad at all, the last 4-5 minutes are miserable though, but within 10 minutes after the test you feel almost back to normal.  In addition to the studies that Dustin runs from the lab he also does testing for people interested in getting VO2max, body composition, and muscular strength evaluated.  He's great to work with and is more than happy to answer questions if you are interested in gettting evaluated.  Overall it was a very interesting and informative visit.

ASU-NCRC Human Performance Lab
Fitness Testing Page

My results:
Weight: 142 pounds
Body Fat: 5.6%
RMR: 1583 (calories consumed daily with virtually no activity during the day)
V02max: 64%
Wattage at completion of protocol: 375

Overall I was really happy with my results, I’ve lost about 4 pounds since I was tested last year, but added 2 pounds of fat free weight:  I’ve lost about 6 pounds fat, and put on 2 pounds of muscle.  My VO2max is just about what it was last year, but I was able to get to 375 watts, where last year my wattage maxed out at 350.

Interesting Links

Cervelo P5 links that I thought were informative (I'll write more extensive thoughts on it next week):
Velonews
TriRig
The bike looks incredible, I'll be interested in whether the UCI will allow the "gussets" that are on the seat tube that make it much longer that is allowed.  The UCI have called a number of bikes (probably most notably the original Specialized Shiv) that met the letter of their rules (but not their) intentions illegal, wonder if this will happen again.

Lionel Messi's 202 goals for Barcelona in 12 minutes
An incredible display of soccer talent, not just his best goals but so many of them are highlight goals.

Kim Jong fake twitter account
Hillarious fake twitter account from the perspecitive of the new leader of North Korea