Start of the 2018 CX season!

The only way to improve is to increase my workout intensity and to train harder with longer interval.

I did a 30 minutes race at Delta Watershed yesterday. After 3 laps, I was pulled after 30 minutes. 1 lap down from the racers that I will competing in the next 2 months. By no mean, I was fast enough to catch them. My hear rate was at the max. I still felt like I could have gone out for another lap. I would have gone out, if the official didn't tell me to stop.

The race course helped me to understand my bike more. Paige is still relatively new to the family, and I have not complete tested her in full blown race condition yet. I wanted to race her in the stock form, but I already making changes. She has a great chassis but she needed a another set of handle bars and saddle to make her better suited for me. The OEM handle bar was nice but the drop was too deep. I raced with On One Midge Bar for the last few years and Midge will be back with me for another season. The OEM Norco Saddle was nice, but I need a saddle that I can move the back of the bike easier. Again, I replaced it with one that been between my legs for the last few years. I may change the tires to lighter set. The 33c Kendas should be back in a few weeks. They will be great for the Vanier Park race!!

I have been racing in the novice class for the last 5 years and it is time to move up. Instead of 30 minutes races, I will be pushing my physical limit in 40 minutes races. That mean I will be doing 1 or 2 extra laps. I don't doubt my body and mind. The summer series proved that if I push and apply myself, I can improve. My lap time at South Surrey Bike Park decreased every week. This old cycling body can still improve even I may not have any talent in racing.

Yesterday was my first proper CX race of the season, but the regular CX race series starts next week. I will start racing in the Single Speed Category. It will be a big change. I will no longer be racing the first race of the day. Instead, I will be racing at 1pm. No longer, I will travel to races and have lunch after. I will finally fully embrace the lifestyle of a Single Speed Cyclocrosser. Not just another Novice racer. I will get my ass handed to me by the fast people, but I rather get my ass handed to me by my colleagues. May be these guys will push me to the next level. Racing is about having fun and pushing my body limit. I will start doing that. I want to race until I am tired.

The plan is made. I just need to show up every weekend.