New Site. New Season. New Story.

Hello, first time visitors, faithful followers (Hi, Mom!) and everyone in between. Welcome to my new website. We’ve launched as I prepare for a fast-approaching road season — my fourteenth! — and I wanted to take a few minutes to explain how things are going to work around here in the 2012 season.

Quick note on the photo first: I captured this image in Hawaii of a koru — or a fern in the process of unfurling. I first learned about the koru while living in New Zealand. The Maori consider it a symbol of new beginnings, new life and perpetual growth. I came to closely identify with this symbol — even incorporating a koru into the tattoo on my upper back. The sentiment behind the koru perfectly aligns with the intention behind my new site, season and story — so  let me tell you about all three.

New website. It’s a fresh new look — and along with the updated design and current content, you’ll find more frequent updates including weekly blogs, a race report for every race, and more media links, photos and videos. I’ll do my best to keep my race calendar current, so you know where we might cross paths throughout the season.

New season. I’m back with Team TIBCO for a fourth year — my third as road captain. I’m excited to be back with the team. We had camp in Santa Barbara earlier this month, and I can tell it’s going to be a big year for the squad. As one of the most seasoned riders on Team TIBCO, I enjoy mentoring the younger riders and taking an active leadership role on the road. I’m excited about helping my teammates win races and taking advantage of any personal opportunities that I can create.

New story. I haven’t had a true break between my cyclocross and road seasons (or road and cyclocross seasons) since I started racing ‘cross in 2008. My mental and physical fatigue throughout this past season was undeniable. I wanted to start the road season feeling strong, fresh and motivated — and I want to come out swingin’ in the ‘cross season later in the year. With these goals in mind, I had some serious discussions with both Team TIBCO and Cal Giant/Specialized. We made some big changes to how I’ll approach this year. I’m hopeful these big changes translate to big pay-offs for me in both disciplines.

I have taken on a significantly smaller road schedule than I’ve ever raced. Given what the last several years of road racing have looked like for me, I could almost say that I’m racing part-time. My first race with Team TIBCO will be Charlotte in mid-April. Normally, my first race of the season is in early March — I’ll race Merced or San Dimas before Redlands. This is the first time in as long as I can remember that I’m missing out on what I’ve come to consider the season start at Redlands. The later start to my season gives me more time off the bike between my two disciplines — and then more time on the bike building back my base with longer training rides before I jump straight back into racing.

I’ll fill in the gaps in my road schedule with some mountain bike racing for Cal Giant. I don’t have a set schedule yet although I hope to include something like Leadville or Breck Epic. I sincerely love mountain biking, and I’ve never had a chance to do enough of it. Each year, when July or August rolls around, I’m always bummed that it’s taken me so long to become reacquainted with my mountain bike. This new plan gives me the opportunity to dabble in the dirt long before the end of the summer. I’m also counting on more time on the mountain bike to improve my technical skills — the lack thereof remains one my biggest challenges in ‘cross.

This year is an extra-important one as it represents a build-up to Cyclocross Worlds in Louisville, KY next January. I’m determined to give myself the best possible chance to be competitive at Worlds on home soil. I appreciate Team TIBCO and Cal Giant affording me this somewhat non-traditional approach to my season. While there are a lot of new things going on around here, there’s one thing that hasn’t changed — and that’s the gratitude I feel for your support.