9/18/97
Well, the season is practically over. I'm deciding what to do during the off season to stay in shape. To that effect, I took a Cyclocross Clinic class last Saturday. Cyclocross is like a mutant cross between cross-country running and mountain bike racing, but done on modified road bikes. You basically ride around a muddy course, but you have to get off your bike and jump small obstacles or climb steep hills with your bike on your shoulders.
One of the impressive things about cyclocross is the mounts and dismounts. You basically hop off the bike, hoist the bike over a small obstacle, and jump back on without slowing down appreciably. Very strange to look at, but not too difficult when they show you how. I had some trouble with it because my mountain bike has pedals with clips. Although that's how it was done in the old days, clipless pedals make it easier.
I had massive muscle pains all over my body after that class from using muscles that I obviously don't use that often. Perhaps because of this fatigue, I hurt my knee while playing with a frisbee a few days later. There were a bunch of doctors around, and after manipulating my knee some, they said it probably wasn't too serious. It's better now.
I think I will close off the normal cycling season with another race this Saturday in Western Washington.