Well a new year has arrived and with that comes a new racing season...or a few racing seasons to be specific. The 2008 season is looking to be much different from all of my previous seasons in terms that I do not currently own a mountain bike and I have decided to focus on making cyclocross season the season that I am gearing up for. This means that I will be using the spring and summer to get my fitness where I need it so that I can focus on peaking later in the year for cyclocross. Plans are still there to race the mountain bike season but, it will be different fro the past.
As the different race directors start posting up the information about their races, I will be updating my schedule to keep track of where I plan on being. Unfortunately I have already come across a couple of conflicts and some races that I really had a blast at in 2007 will not be able to be repeated in 2008. Although, there are also some great races that I will also be competing in for the first time. There is always balance in the Force.
The road season in 2007 was absolutely fantastic and 2008 will be a blast with bicycle duties being handled by my Cannondale Six13 that I have spent the last 1.5 years on as well as the Cannondale SystemSix that I acquired late in the 2007 season. The Six13 has taken on the "training day" duties and the SystemSix will be considered my "race bike" but, that does not mean it will only be used for racing. It will probably log just as many miles as the Six13 as the summer months allow me to train for the CX season.
Cannondale aluiminum plus Cannondale carbon...times two...does it get any sweeter? No way.
Mountain bike season looks to be pretty interesting as at the time that I am typing this. As I stated last September, I am no longer going to contest the 12 and 24 hour solo races and will return to racing XC although I may look at getting a team together to challenge for the 24 Hours of Iowa in September of 2008. I am currently without ownership of a mountain bike with the majority of my focus going to finishing up my CX bike. Once it is finished then I will probably begin the search for a new mountainbike.
Guitar Ted has graciously offered me the use of one of his 29ers for the season if I choose and I am actually excited to do so. Maybe something else will come up too but, as of right now mountain bike racing will be aboard a G-Ted 29er......sweet.
Then there will be cyclocross season where Project X-Fire will be ready for some fun. Plans are to participate in all of the races in Iowa as well as make an attempt at going to Nationals. I would also like to find a race weekend in Minnesota that will fit into my schedule to get a little more cowbell racing in. Jinglecross will also be on the schedule, definitely one of the best race courses that I have had the pleasure of riding on.
A few things will be changing for me for the 2008 season too as you may have noticed on my
"2008 Sidekicks" on the right side of my blog. I am extremely happy to say that I will be sporting
Oakley Eyewear in 2008. Totally digging their products and I am super pumped to be working with "Oakley Rob" during my 2008 adventures. I may have to grab myself
a pair of goggles real soon so that I can get some snowboard time in here too.
There are a few other things that I am still working out some details on but I hope to announce those very soon also.
I hope that everyone has a great season and look forward to riding and racing with a few of you again in 2008.
Read the complete post at http://carlosdajackal.blogspot.com/2008/01/2008.html