tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-60902653117063743502024-03-01T14:11:45.972-08:00Nate WilsonNate Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12922197632677854023noreply@blogger.comBlogger125125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6090265311706374350.post-10859567334583826762017-09-05T19:36:00.001-07:002017-09-09T12:46:00.463-07:00Checking InMay 7th of 2013, to, February 1st of 2015, 635 days. February 1st 2015, to September 6th 2017, 948 days. Numbers, dates, etc, point being, I suppose, that this blog has slipped into a bit of a defunct entity. That said, for whatever reason, I am flying from primary home to secondary home, and feeling an urge to get the blog up to speed.<br />
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Ok, so getting up to speed, here. When I last checked in, I was, "shoulders deep in coaching". Well, call it naive, call it 20/20 hindsight, I'd say I was far shallower than shoulders deep, and maybe now I am getting there? Seeing as everytime I round a proverbial bend, I realize I'm a bit farther from the top, than I once thought I was, I'll refrain from making allegories on where I stand in the coaching world. Right, tangent, getting up to speed - primary home is Boulder, CO (still), and secondary home, more or less, is Sittard, Netherlands. I guess that's been a secondary home before, but the mechanism has changed. Where in a previous blog, Sittard would have been my launching pad for a World Tour pursuit, a racing campaign, a camp of hard yards of training, etc, etc, me, me, me - now it serves a bit different purpose. Same base, similar idea, different role. <br />
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The coaching has taken me to directing the U23 national team for USA Cycling. Definitely a gear change, and I would think I'm not the only one that's been scratching my head this year wondering how a 26 year old dirt bag smooth talked his way into this role. Now, of course, my ego would step up and say it's not all smooth talk, and there's been some hard yards off the bike that have placed me here. I would agree with my ego to some extent, but also counter that I'm extremely fortunate to be where I am, and there's been an element of right place, right time, that played strongly as well.<br />
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Now, mechanism aside, I've enjoyed it a lot. I'd be lying, if I said, I'd enjoyed every minute. It's been hard, harder than I imagined. But, cliche as it may be, seeing the effort the riders put in, and the progress we've made as program - well it makes it pretty easy to work hard. Well, as I said, flying from primary home to secondary home. We've just wrapped l'Avenir. I've been home for a week, and now it's back over to the EU, for a final push towards Worlds. I don't actually like the word final, as it sounds like a final gasp for breath. Rather, I think this push is a momentous push. The riders are fit, and Worlds is far from an afterthought. Obviously, hindsight will tell us the success. But from where I sit now, it's nothing but excitement, anticipation, and a bit of confidence. Keen to get stuck in on this one.<br />
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Well - there's the every two year check in (I wanted to say biannual, but feared that may mean twice per year?). Maybe a strong gin and tonic will move this to a higher frequency. But every two years doesn't sound so bad to me. Thanks for reading - if there's anyone out there.Nate Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12922197632677854023noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6090265311706374350.post-51746464118377211762015-02-01T23:54:00.001-08:002015-02-01T23:54:34.640-08:00An Exercise in Frustration, or a Lack ThereofI haven't posted since Gila 2013. First off, funny that I mark my calendar by races rather than by a month, date, time, hell even a moon phase feels like it would be more relevant to the world around me. I guess not so much funny as indicative of how influential racing has been in my life. That said, damn, cycling can be a bitch. I left off my last post with a lot of cliches and sap, I figured I might as well pick up where I left off.<br />
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Cycling is tough, it's given me a lot of good things, and I can't sit here and write that it's taken a lot away from me, when it really hasn't and when there are kids out there that I know would give an arm and a leg to have gotten the opportunities I have. Some would probably give a lot more, maybe a kidney since you only need one. That said, I feel like cycling has chewed me up and spit me out, for the time being. It's not the first time, but my self centered memory is typically just a few months long, it's easy to forget all I've gotten out of it in lieu of a couple moments of frustration. It just shows how fickle we, or more accurately, I, can be.<br />
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Overall cycling is treating me well, very well. I'm shoulders deep in the coaching pool now, and fighting to establish myself there. It feels a bit weird being a 23 year old, who 15 months ago considered himself an up and comer, to be sitting with guys in there 30's and 40's that are done and past racing and coaching is their all. I think a lot of people may look at me and say I shouldn't be there yet, but the reality is that I am, and I'm happy about it. I am loving the coaching, and looking to get involved with as many projects as I can. I remember how hungry I was coming up, and I want to be right back there, but on the other side of the equation, feeding that hunger. <br />
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I've gone on a bit of a tangent here, but it's good, well that's good. As to my own frustrations, it's just injury. Just, injury. It sounds so simple, so clean. Just rest, you idiot, why don't you go see a physical therapist, maybe you just need to foam roll more. Do you stretch regularly? Shit, if I haven't heard all that a thousand times before. I'm not going to lie, I'm not past it, for all intents and purposes. I'm happy with coaching being my focus. But, I'm not happy with my body. It's nothing but frustration, dealing with this, and I'd be lying if I said that I was totally happy with cycling right now. As much as I try to put it behind me, it's hard to. I don't care if I never pin a number on again, but I just want to ride a bike. I haven't ridden over an hour since Thanksgiving at this point, and I've only scraped the one hour mark at all a few times. Mostly it's been a routine of forty-five minutes spent stretching, doing some exercises, kitting up, getting excited because I've convinced myself that this ride will be the breakthrough one. Then I'm pulled over on the side of the road five minutes after having rolled out the door, trying to decide whether I want to throw my bike off the left side of the road or the right. I hate to sit here and complain about my own problems, but misery loves company right, and this blog will have to do.<br />
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I hit those feelings for moments, but then I've been lucky enough to get a bit of perspective. I'll go into the office tomorrow and get to look at everybody's files from the weekend. That may sound like a circle of hell to some, but to anybody who really knows me they know it pretty much can't get better for me. But for a moment here, in lieu of sleep, it feels good to let out my frustrations. I've been trying to keep my injuries a secret for months now, and finally I don't have to. I've come clean with my team, and the pressure is off. To be honest it feels amazing. There's always something bigger on the horizon. And as much as I want to give sage advice to up and coming young riders to focus on the big picture, and not the (many) little bumps along the way, I need the advice just as much myself. Nate Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12922197632677854023noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6090265311706374350.post-48057967100545994192013-05-07T08:42:00.001-07:002013-05-07T08:42:24.032-07:00On the HuntIt is a special moment when you realize in a race that the form is getting to a good place. If there is one thing I have learned over the last few years it is that I can draw almost nothing from what I do in training. I have gone into races thinking I was invincible and been dropped before the real racing even began, and I have gone into races hoping just to finish and been one of the best riders in the race. I never really know what is going to happen until the race really starts going and then I know whether I have it or not.<br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal">When I get to the race there is always a moment where I really know, it sounds cliché but there is a certain feeling I get and when I have it I just know. This past week at Gila I finally felt the sensations I have been looking for all spring, and in the moment all I could feel was overwhelming relief. All week I was solid, acceptable, but at one point in the beginning of the last day I felt what I was really looking for. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The last stage at Gila is the hardest on paper, and often the most decisive for the GC. Last year a break of 22 riders went clear on the first small climb out of town. A large portion of the break stayed clear and shaped a large part of the GC. This year three teams went into the final day with four or more riders in the top 15 on GC and it seemed like, with last year fresh in their memories, each of those teams was intent on stacking a big break with a rider high on GC to put pressure on the leader and try to win the race.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Basically the motivation of the big teams to stack the break led to a very aggressive and hard start where a break never really went. As everyone’s legs started to tire from the aggression the race began to split and come back together. At one point I was too far back and the race was shattering, on the crosswind climb. Without thinking I pulled out of line and went straight across the gaps to the front group. For just that one moment, maybe three minutes total, I totally felt what I had been looking for, for five months. I did not feel it all week, or even all day. But just for that one moment I had found what I was looking for, and for an instant all I could feel was relief. I thought to myself, “you’ve still got it Nate, it’s going to be okay”, and for that I thank you Gila.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">For now the one instant will have to suffice, but I can only hope the feeling will become more common over the coming months. With a big block of European stage racing coming up I may be getting there just in the nick of time. I can’t say I am totally where I want to be, but I am a lot closer than I was a month ago. To me that sounds like progress, and as long as there is progression there is reason to continue, so for now I continue on the hunt.</div><!--EndFragment--> <!--EndFragment-->Nate Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12922197632677854023noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6090265311706374350.post-23496890563618533482012-12-12T15:51:00.003-08:002012-12-12T15:51:40.924-08:00You know it's a good crack when you find yourself sitting alone in the corner of DQ with one Blizzard in each hand. Don't worry I'll be back.Nate Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12922197632677854023noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6090265311706374350.post-69923071197818309362012-10-10T17:22:00.001-07:002012-10-10T17:22:39.146-07:00A 2012 Racing Review in Photos<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I was recently perusing the web in an indulgence of my own vanity, looking through all the pictures I could find of myself from this past year. It was a truly enjoyable time, as I can't deny loving the look of my lean self giving it a little bit of stick.</div>
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I figured I can't just save all the pleasurable viewing for myself, so I've assembled a small homage to my own personal ego below, for my 2.78 readers' enjoyment.</div>
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There is nothing I specialize in more than going solo in early season, office park, training crits.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-V6C1Py28u9zfzOK5SkKRtVgLUqHY_kL5hN5c4rdfRYQSYkVwi__JpkxF_6O6msUY2zNROha4DCMBSWgBz0kxqqwMXetIezTKECmfRzkxND29UqOd2nBljf7du9Rn9A0uXIyLf6Dh3PM/s1600/408897_2509485791380_812743907_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-V6C1Py28u9zfzOK5SkKRtVgLUqHY_kL5hN5c4rdfRYQSYkVwi__JpkxF_6O6msUY2zNROha4DCMBSWgBz0kxqqwMXetIezTKECmfRzkxND29UqOd2nBljf7du9Rn9A0uXIyLf6Dh3PM/s320/408897_2509485791380_812743907_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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But if there is one thing I specialize in almost as much, it is flat, windy season opener road races. Staz and I started the season off right in this one, and it was too much fun not to commemorate.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpofZScrAelku3uVnSb64uY-esC1B_5ac3OQPpGgkTWixHHTIqxYgb_iQAU6LdYB456jSFEIHpBXTGnELQLwsH6pJHAQT6ygk17icjFL8GCVup9mcRSgEjQQqvYWYTDJWT_zugb6FzzjU/s1600/478234_555028543245_799640389_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpofZScrAelku3uVnSb64uY-esC1B_5ac3OQPpGgkTWixHHTIqxYgb_iQAU6LdYB456jSFEIHpBXTGnELQLwsH6pJHAQT6ygk17icjFL8GCVup9mcRSgEjQQqvYWYTDJWT_zugb6FzzjU/s320/478234_555028543245_799640389_o.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div>
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In what would prove to be a theme for the year, Huffman did this in the TT at Merco. The selfish bastard cost me a hundred bucks with his win.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4z0jaDJUWSNuHWnmQcZvxTnC-E07fxgTtJ-OHK3YzU5_A0LjUOuEvwfKeQPWglZvMVPgAz2CkJEegenlmZytKrWrZXlKY03b8GsLw08XlBV5nqWa8k2-bqAFfM7AWJpLs_nDMoXe87k8/s1600/419833_2589613834531_539622332_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4z0jaDJUWSNuHWnmQcZvxTnC-E07fxgTtJ-OHK3YzU5_A0LjUOuEvwfKeQPWglZvMVPgAz2CkJEegenlmZytKrWrZXlKY03b8GsLw08XlBV5nqWa8k2-bqAFfM7AWJpLs_nDMoXe87k8/s320/419833_2589613834531_539622332_n.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div>
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And then to add insult to injury he wanted us to ride the front in the crit.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0INqeRJFPrajCRFONOI_JoyVbwxQzgcsUDz0P69IJMN3qJDIQ51bTc15XnW498WbtzpfjE8jrcldtfitohcAquWhhyphenhyphenAU-q3_eNxrZ1hfScx86LJaGWukwsTBLy1jDal8oe4-gfPOnjis/s1600/417979_10150586418595838_1501254451_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0INqeRJFPrajCRFONOI_JoyVbwxQzgcsUDz0P69IJMN3qJDIQ51bTc15XnW498WbtzpfjE8jrcldtfitohcAquWhhyphenhyphenAU-q3_eNxrZ1hfScx86LJaGWukwsTBLy1jDal8oe4-gfPOnjis/s320/417979_10150586418595838_1501254451_n.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div>
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This one is from the first stage of Gila, super easy and then super hard, never in between.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRcMiotJbP2IwnfWkAxxhcM4jPMBvn_T7_Pabp4YA27eAuZDZhODH2UpFzureFjJZnRtFOsRn1NwAimftJOZlvh2fLcVTYnntxZDPtyRMLUMbWnh77xrgeabTledV0gaqYVTGHv1uZRO4/s1600/413136_3915073317599_1941416335_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRcMiotJbP2IwnfWkAxxhcM4jPMBvn_T7_Pabp4YA27eAuZDZhODH2UpFzureFjJZnRtFOsRn1NwAimftJOZlvh2fLcVTYnntxZDPtyRMLUMbWnh77xrgeabTledV0gaqYVTGHv1uZRO4/s320/413136_3915073317599_1941416335_o.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="212" /></a></div>
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I would be lying if I said I wasn't proud of this one. Not necessarily the result I was hoping for, but at least I was in the right spot at one point in the race.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN5V7sihTTtoXJIapsuOmPsrYdSNStb2tGafLs5R5lfhIuKjpPTh3zfVyKyqvn4uk8FzhP1a_NWYlrVeUw8YIc2B5QqxgXrz6LPlrHVPiopC4QHQyfB4a9b26hY-TnIFavx6oDpLCC3fQ/s1600/DombrowskiSutherlandGila5_512-047-632x421.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN5V7sihTTtoXJIapsuOmPsrYdSNStb2tGafLs5R5lfhIuKjpPTh3zfVyKyqvn4uk8FzhP1a_NWYlrVeUw8YIc2B5QqxgXrz6LPlrHVPiopC4QHQyfB4a9b26hY-TnIFavx6oDpLCC3fQ/s320/DombrowskiSutherlandGila5_512-047-632x421.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div>
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GK and I were on a bit of a day at the Iron Horse crit, can't say the same for the TT though.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifwI-I6A1cv1y0wWoaWm-NGoCfuVJLHBg5s3m756N1-1nY_xIWba1xaRH4urZeR-aHB1hU_U5Z7OPILvOOKFWIXOmwLvJvq1xZmhfBJIwAJetYoTgpIaWzN-D-X42aDH1bu8_UVeLjAVI/s1600/414572_3692673047060_733402465_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifwI-I6A1cv1y0wWoaWm-NGoCfuVJLHBg5s3m756N1-1nY_xIWba1xaRH4urZeR-aHB1hU_U5Z7OPILvOOKFWIXOmwLvJvq1xZmhfBJIwAJetYoTgpIaWzN-D-X42aDH1bu8_UVeLjAVI/s320/414572_3692673047060_733402465_o.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div>
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Hood could've been worse.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_7SZCYZtvuzp8N3YHtS3ZPfCXxs_Ymuo0DAadp6ZnWlL6JmbgR7PZzE8QnYPwb2TgdqOE1KbwkIVHJxDw_7_RJ8oSUE7q1wEl6PTZrvfY6ATULIJY1QHhJ9RdlcrAtZFoeoUh0yIIKa0/s1600/294951_3053933522233_1650961415_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_7SZCYZtvuzp8N3YHtS3ZPfCXxs_Ymuo0DAadp6ZnWlL6JmbgR7PZzE8QnYPwb2TgdqOE1KbwkIVHJxDw_7_RJ8oSUE7q1wEl6PTZrvfY6ATULIJY1QHhJ9RdlcrAtZFoeoUh0yIIKa0/s320/294951_3053933522233_1650961415_n.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div>
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Hood could've been worse for sure.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_IHQ4217ebp7hSoCNV0sYVXoinqmwA5YaYhNKrGO4Fz-ZgR0D4uIGWaT_5yag5CuvQ0KigK9p1O8afqkiwKjWGJ88ZVSHbmU4QzgRkUq044QZ8RQX9x0x0VUqLlHKKbV4T2U7dPZ6DiE/s1600/403426_3053934122248_1708400295_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_IHQ4217ebp7hSoCNV0sYVXoinqmwA5YaYhNKrGO4Fz-ZgR0D4uIGWaT_5yag5CuvQ0KigK9p1O8afqkiwKjWGJ88ZVSHbmU4QzgRkUq044QZ8RQX9x0x0VUqLlHKKbV4T2U7dPZ6DiE/s320/403426_3053934122248_1708400295_n.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div>
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This might be my favorite picture of the whole season actually. The kid that won, while he looks all of 10, is a stout 19. He's a major hitter, and is gonna win everything with a hill or without in due time. He'll never admit but he's my protege.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLJkotAimbDBuyo_OTFdgvHCPIz5f-nt6x60KEWpeTVNX4li9CXI2Ayix7z9Ccipeuga4i_r4LuiRdXa1grM6zHl2XkWy3M33poPjbah4ic7uDi-Ta_yAoy4dglAAvUrRqyHfEo8C5H1I/s1600/525096_3465780933008_511902071_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLJkotAimbDBuyo_OTFdgvHCPIz5f-nt6x60KEWpeTVNX4li9CXI2Ayix7z9Ccipeuga4i_r4LuiRdXa1grM6zHl2XkWy3M33poPjbah4ic7uDi-Ta_yAoy4dglAAvUrRqyHfEo8C5H1I/s320/525096_3465780933008_511902071_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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It's a major treat to come race at home, especially a Joe Jefferson race. I don't think I've met another announcer that compares. Ryan, Josh, Keck thanks for making it a race.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYyLRFUU_9wl4JFoZVQYccVmDYv4lRc4TU1TzYIPHWA5W79tHwPEF_zUqJ2iSaYNFh9aFWElP3BfaAUzHJOvdlXbnkFSDZrExr3ODpWSLd9JP_KZ6Eel-Rql0CWlTts_puv0FfMfmaZmM/s1600/169204_4219375364960_629765287_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYyLRFUU_9wl4JFoZVQYccVmDYv4lRc4TU1TzYIPHWA5W79tHwPEF_zUqJ2iSaYNFh9aFWElP3BfaAUzHJOvdlXbnkFSDZrExr3ODpWSLd9JP_KZ6Eel-Rql0CWlTts_puv0FfMfmaZmM/s320/169204_4219375364960_629765287_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Like I said, in what would prove to be a theme for the year. Hats off to you Huffman.</div>
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Aosta was the coolest and most beautiful race I've ever done. It also has some climbs.</div>
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It was a privilege to be part of the l'Avenir team. Four of the guys from the team are going pro and it was clear at this race why. I was lucky enough to make into the break one day, and I'm not gonna lie it was horrible. Everyone in that race is a little bit motivated, and I left my main motivation back in the Folsom office park in the first picture.<br />
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All in all this year was a blast. The teammates were great, most fun group of guys I could ever imagine to hang out with, at a race or not. The races weren't so bad themselves, from time to time. But yeah, here's to closing the door on the 2012 season and almost ready to open the door on 2013. But first a few more 40's and bowls of ice cream. In case you were still undecided GQ is saying a 40 of Mickey's is the 2012 "class on class" drink of choice.</div>
<br />Nate Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12922197632677854023noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6090265311706374350.post-73132178298783915382012-09-05T04:13:00.002-07:002012-09-05T04:13:31.841-07:00<!--StartFragment-->
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<div class="MsoNormal">
I’m on the flight home from my second ever racing trip to
Europe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s funny the past two
months I’ve had more free time than I knew what to do with and never managed to
write an update.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now I’m a week
into the semester and everything is flying and yet I’ve decided now is the time
to update the all important blog. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Aosta was a mixed bag for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The courses were incredible, so hilly and so beautiful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was the best race I’ve ever done for
sure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well at least looking back
on it now it seems like it was the best races.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, during the race there were a couple mornings that I
woke up and looked at the profile for the day and questioned how I ever thought
I liked climbing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I came in with
some good form, but maybe didn’t put it too full use.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On the second day I got in the move that went early and went
clear over the first KOM.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I got
second in the sprint at the top and me and a French kid had a small gap on the
descent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was nailing it even
though there were 15 guys right behind use and 120k still to go.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Instead of just sitting up I was
following him a little too hot and came into one corner comically fast.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It wasn’t even close.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But yeah so that day ended up being a
wash, there were two more hard climbs the break stayed away and would’ve been a
good opportunity to set up a good GC, but instead I suffered through the
day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I felt pretty wrecked the
next two days, didn’t get too cut up but my hip and back were giving me some
problems.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The 4<sup>th</sup> stage
I had my main good day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was the
queen stage, the hardest day on paper, so it was a good day to have a good
day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was a big break that
had some guys staying away to the finale.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Over the second cat 1 I made the first major selection though and in was
in a front group of about 15 guys.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Over the next cat 1 it pretty much exploded.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I rode solo pretty much to the line, but went through a few
groups on the last climb.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I ended
up 10<sup>th</sup> but was only beat by a few people out of the field.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It wasn’t huge, but for me it was.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A big thing for me was that the stage
was about 5:15, and I’ve had a history of cracking in long hard races, but that
day I just kept getting better and better as it was going on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So it gave me some hope for the future
that I can do it even in a big race.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The main downside of Aosta for me came the next day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was another hard climbing day and
whatever I felt the day before today I felt the opposite.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I ended up getting shelled and dropping
out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I could barely eat and
looking back I was starting to get sick as I spent the next few days praying to
the porcelain gods.</div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
The rest of the trip was a mixed bag as a lot of trips
are.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some highs and some
lows.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The guys were great and it
was an inspirational crew to be around.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It’s pretty motivating when you’re sitting around the table talking and
you realize almost all the guys are going pro tour next year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>l’Avenir was great to do, wish I had
been riding better, but Boswell and Larry made it easy to want to give all the
little bit of form I had.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So at
least I know I didn’t let any go to waste.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I think it’s official I used up all the reserves to
squeeze the last bit of form out of the tube so to speak.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was motivating to be at l’Avenir but
mentally draining at the same time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It’s the biggest race I’ve ever done that late in the year and I think
for me I was running a little bit too much on fumes to be fully effective.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But it was a great opportunity and
hopefully I learned something so next year I can come back and ride for the
GC.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Boz ended up 5<sup>th</sup> on
GC and Brown would’ve won if he wasn’t the worlds greatest work horse.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Better than that were the nonstop
laughs and the nearly nonstop ice cream since the race ended.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Now it’s time to break out the MTB for some collegiate
racing and see what kind of fast times I can put down riding from one bar to
the next.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hopefully I pass some
classes in the interim as well.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Nate Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12922197632677854023noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6090265311706374350.post-58705079366488655222012-06-26T08:07:00.001-07:002012-06-26T08:08:42.183-07:00NationalsThere are a lot of important races and chances for results throughout the season, but the national championships for whatever reason always seem more important to me than other races. Not everyone feels this way, in fact it seems that recently most u23 riders place less and less emphasis on nationals. For me I always feel a little more pressure at nationals than I do at other big races. Maybe it is because I still have not quite let go of a couple years ago when I got second at nationals when I had the fitness but not the head to win it. So either way, for whatever it is nationals always feels like a magical event to me. One day you can be no one and the next your national champion, and everyone has that chance. To me that makes it very special. For whatever reason the past few years when I have lined up I have always had this feeling that I had a chance to win no matter what the course or who was there, that for some reason I do not always have at other events.<br />
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At the same time I have a lot of a love hate relationship with the national championships. It almost does not seem to matter who is racing or what the course is, I am always in the mix but never seem to be able to finish it off. In 2009 I rode away in the junior race only to be joined by Max Durtschi and outclassed at the end. In 2010 in my first year u23, I was probably in way over my head but for whatever reason I just did not care. Anytime Howes, Talansky, or Ben King would attack I would turn myself inside out to follow them, as if I was a contender for the win. To be honest looking back on it, it seems comical. But if anyone had asked me what I was doing covering so much more than I knew I could handle, I would have told them I was going to win. Eventually Ben King went when everyone else couldn't and him and I rode away. Again I could not handle it, and eventually he rode away from me as well, but this time the pack rode up to me. Last year in 2011, I missed the winning move but took an opportunity to go across the three minute gap with some of the strong boys. When we got there I was totally done and was barely able to get one bottle from the car to give to Evan and claim a stake in his excellent ride for 3rd. This year I was again in the mix and was in the move without too much trouble. I rode it out for most of the day but just wasn't on the day I needed. We got put behind the 8 ball and I had to ride to try and salvage something but like I said I wasn't on the day I needed. Rob Bush was the quickest in a three up sprint between maybe the three quickest guys in the race.<br />
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So that is the end to another nationals for me. It has been four years of being in the position to win, but being unable to finish it off. It's an interesting feeling I have for the national championships, but it is a good one that keeps me wanting to come back, at least for one more year I think.Nate Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12922197632677854023noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6090265311706374350.post-10222294137748014392012-05-19T19:48:00.001-07:002012-05-19T20:16:53.957-07:00wowYeah I'm sure everyone saw that. I know I sure did. All I can say is that it's an honor to have ridden with and raced with Joe and whether we're racing against each other ten years from now or not I'm gonna be pumped to know him. What is your limit man? I definitely don't know.Nate Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12922197632677854023noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6090265311706374350.post-6987904814321927502012-05-11T22:33:00.005-07:002012-05-11T22:33:37.430-07:00It Doesn't Get More Cliche Than ThisI just returned from my good friend, Andrew Murphy's, graduation party. Andrew is an incredible guy. I've known him for three years now, and I've never seen him anything other than happy, upbeat, and laughing. When left to my own devices I can become fairly negative fairly quickly so I always enjoy spending time with Andrew. It didn't hit me until I was walking home from the party alone, but Andrew is graduating college and moving onto the real world. It seems like a big step, and Murphy leaving seems like a big step as well. Andrew is the kind of guy that definitely brings people together. He's all about friends, and having a good time with his friends. Anytime I hang out with Andrew and his friends I feel like I'm hanging out with my brothers rather than a bunch of drunk college kids. <br />
<br />
As I was walking home I was really realizing how much who I am around matters to me. It is not that I was having this epiphany that friends are important in life, but I was just seeing it differently. It is more important to me who I am with than what I am doing. As cliche as that sounds it just hit me really hard how important that sentiment is to me. Murphy loves bike racing, and he loves hearing about my races. I was thinking about it tonight and though and a lot of the fun in bike racing isn't going out and just riding hard. I enjoy that, but it is about being with a great group of people and doing what you want together.<br />
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As I was thinking about this I was thinking about my recent trip to New Mexico for Tour of the Gila. I had a solid ride there. Sometimes solid is good enough. However, sometimes solid falls to the wayside fairly quickly when there are so many people putting in spectacular rides. I kind of feel like my ride at Gila fell into this category. I felt like it was solid, but it is hard to be happy with solid when my peers are doing the spectacular. This may seem like a negative interpretation of the race, but what I realized tonight is that I don't care. What got me through that race, and what gets me to the next one is not results, but rather my great teammates. Every race I go to, I am excited to race, but usually more excited to see my teammates who have become some of my best friends. I sit around telling people I want to race professionally and this and that. I still feel that way. However, I think that if I had to race with people I did not like being around I would not enjoy racing. Maybe that seems black and white but I think it is important. If I had the choice of signing a six figure contract to race time trials all year or paying to race office park crits with some of my best friends, I would choose to race office park crits every time. Now maybe if I was actually faced with this decision I would crumble. But at least for a split second, while I type this, I am experiencing a moment of clarity where I am letting go of the pressure to chase a pro contract and embracing the moments I am experiencing right now.<br />
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I am sure my message did not come through totally clear in my myriad of words above, but the point is clear to me. Thank you Andrew for all the good times, we'll miss you.Nate Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12922197632677854023noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6090265311706374350.post-45515643131353428572012-03-20T13:59:00.002-07:002012-03-20T14:13:07.641-07:00San DimasSan Dimas had some good news and some bad news for me. The good news is, I didn't make it to the crit so I had plenty of time to do some deep thinking of what cliche metaphors about cycling to fill my blog with. Sometimes you're the hammer, and sometimes you're the nail. It doesn't get any easier you just go faster. The first cut is the deepest? Well you get the point.<div><br /></div><div>San Dimas started out really well for me, I got 6th in the hill climb TT and took the best young rider jersey. It was a result I had wanted for a long time. I didn't care or know if it was going to be at San Dimas or at some other race, but the ride I did is one I've known I've had in me for a long time and I've just been struggling to get out. Over the years I've done that ride on local climbs and training rides a plenty, or on the first climb of a 5 climb race. However, San Dimas was the first time I did that ride when it mattered and it went down on paper. To have that break through ride was really good for me and I'm glad to get it out of the way this early in the season, because I'm hoping it will give me the confidence to do that ride more and more when it matters.</div><div><br /></div><div>The bad part is that the race went 180 degrees for me and the team the next day. The second stage is an 85 mile circuit race that is historically sunny, warm and ends in a field sprint. I felt confident I would make it through relatively safely and keep the jersey. However, 50 degree temperatures, heavy rain, and gusty winds changed that for me. The race was very hectic from the start, but I was dealing with it and staying at the front. However, on the 4th lap there was a big pile up towards the front and I got caught up in it. It turned into a big mess of tangled bikes and took a long time to get my bike out and get going. I chased but a mix of maybe just not being strong enough, combined with a circuit that is not ideal to chase on as it doesn't have a caravan, led to me not getting back into the race. I rolled it alone for a few laps furious with myself until I just pulled out. It was a tough day for everyone as 2/3 of the field dropped out. However, it was very frustrating to not pull through and finish off the good ride that TT set me up for.</div><div><br /></div><div>In short it was a frustrating weekend, but I finally today feel over it and am ready to move on to Redlands. Redlands should be good, I think we have some guys that can do some big results here so I'm looking forward to helping them out. I'm also excited to get Redlands out of the way, because in my head it marks the end of the beginning of the season, and then I can really get into some good training back in Boulder and hopefully be very ready for Tour of the Gila.</div>Nate Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12922197632677854023noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6090265311706374350.post-38188076026702215052012-02-02T16:29:00.000-08:002012-02-02T16:38:02.639-08:00"Singing a country song soft and low."- Josh Ritter<div><br /></div><div>I was listening to the song that holds the quote above today and it seemed to align with what goes through my head on a lot of the rides I've been doing recently. I've been doing a lot of training lately and it's going pretty well, really well actually, but for the first time I'm not really excited by it. Let me clarify, I'm having a great time training and I'm always excited to go out and smash some big rides, between you and me I actually enjoy training much more than racing. However, in past years I've taken good training rides and translated that in my head to all these great results I'm definitely going to get. Usually it does not work out in reality how it works in my head.</div><div><br /></div><div>So this year for the first time I have not been jumping to broad conclusions. My training has been good, but for the first time I just don't care. It takes me some time to figure out sometimes. I guess it took me about 7 years to figure this out, and maybe I haven't figured it out yet. But for the first time I'm just waiting until the races actually start to find out what result I'm going to get, rather than "knowing for sure" in January. So we'll see if this tactic plays out differently than my past methods. But I feel a lot better about it, theres no stress and I'm not getting as worked up about my numbers in training or at least trying to. </div><div><br /></div><div>On my rides I've been just going out and clearing my head and singing country songs soft and low, well sometimes super loud. But I think after a few years about putting too much pressure on myself I'm finally past it and I'm not so worried about racing. This may be my last year of racing and I just want to enjoy it. If some good results happen and I continue that is great, but if not I'm completely at peace with it and will finally get to go out and just train with reckless abandon how I really like to.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div>Nate Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12922197632677854023noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6090265311706374350.post-87413529036779824822011-12-07T09:33:00.000-08:002011-12-07T09:46:42.573-08:00A Problem I'd Love to Have<div>What is probably three or four years ago now, I was out on a ride with my friend and mentor Blair Berbert. We were probably about 1hr 56mins in, and I was probably already totally cracked, under fueled, and turning myself inside out to keep Blair from realizing. Blair would always take me out on these big rides, and every ride we did I would be progressively in a little less over my head. On this particular ride I remember we were talking about how awesome it would be to be professional cyclists. I said something stupid along the lines of how hard it must be for Andy Schleck to decide what races he wants to do. Blair said, "that is one of those problems I'd love to have". Over the past few years Blair and I have kept going on big rides together, and lots has changed, I don't totally crack on the rides anymore and we're both going faster. However we still do speculate about how great it'd be to be top pros.</div><div><br /></div><div>This past weekend I flew to California at 6:30pm Friday night and flew back to Colorado at 12:20pm Sunday. The purpose of the trip was for the first little Cal Giant mini camp, to meet the new guys, get bike fits from Specialized, etc. All week I was bitching to myself about what a pain it was, and how pointless it seemed to fly to California for what was essentially a 24hr trip. Then when I was standing in the Specialized headquarters in Morgan Hill, being asked what size aero jersey I wanted and whether I wanted an SL4 or a Venge, I couldn't help but smile to myself as I realized this trip was one of those problems I'd always wanted to have.</div><div><br /></div><div>I've still got a long ways to go towards accomplishing all the personal goals I have, but it feels good to look back and realize how far I've come.</div>Nate Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12922197632677854023noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6090265311706374350.post-22415616011760640072011-10-16T16:32:00.000-07:002011-10-16T16:36:26.626-07:00The Band is sweet.<div><br /></div><div>The Legend of Bagger of Vance is also pretty sweet. I had not seen that fine film (alliteration, no big deal) since it came out. Until I watched it again yesterday. Wow! That is a sweet movie. I read some reviews of it, and apparently a lot of people didn't like it. However, I disagree with them. It's a classic underdog story, always awesome (another alliteration, maybe I should be a writer). But seriously, if you haven't seen it you should. It made me realize that golf movies are the best movies. Tin Cup and The Legend of Bagger Vance are examples enough (ok now this is just out of control).</div>Nate Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12922197632677854023noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6090265311706374350.post-71733830232324401002011-10-03T09:26:00.001-07:002011-10-03T09:30:09.128-07:00There is a band called The Avett Brothers. The band is super sweet.<div><br /></div><div>There is also a band called The Wood Brothers that is also super sweet.</div><div><br /></div><div>There is also a band called The Allman Brothers that is super sweet.</div><div><br /></div><div>I've decided all bands that have the band name The "Last Name" Brothers are super sweet.</div>Nate Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12922197632677854023noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6090265311706374350.post-49665911822037244092011-09-19T09:13:00.000-07:002011-09-19T09:28:26.114-07:00blogging is more fun than homework, maybeIt has been a little while since I lasted smashed the keys of my keyboard in pursuit of blogging glory. I'm not sure has been the cause for this dry spell, but I do know that as I stare down a couple hundred pages of reading I should do about 4th century English history, blogging glory has sudden become a noble pursuit again.<div><br /></div><div>Of course after such a brilliant set up, I really have nothing worth while to write about, so I suppose I'll just go with the cliche summary blog. I last updated on July 11th, since then life has been pretty usual, bike racing among other time wasting activities.</div><div><br /></div><div>I did Cascade which so so, could've been better as usual, also could've been worse...which isn't always as usual, so that is a plus I suppose. After Cascade I was taken in by the Huffman family as Evan and I chased the prestigious Cal Cup all over Northern California for a few weeks. It was a fun chase, unfortunately I had to abandon the race early as school beckoned, meanwhile Evan finished off the job and won the Cal Cup overall, while I slipped to 8th after bailing on the NorCal scene. The tradeoff is that I live on my own and go to school, while Evan doesn't go to school and lives with his parents. If some confused readers think I have come out ahead in this tradeoff, they clearly do not understand the prestige of the Cal Cup racing series!</div><div><br /></div><div>Since then it's just been books, college, and the occasional stab at maintaining some fitness by getting lit up in Boulder city limit sprints by mountain bikers and triathletes. </div><div><br /></div><div>But, yes everything has been going pretty well, I'm actually the most fired up about school I have been since I started college. I think taking a semester off this Spring to race was good for both my racing and my school, as I'm really refreshed on school now. It might've honestly been better for my school than my racing, as I can't say my racing necessarily profited that much. </div><div><br /></div><div>For the meantime I've got some prestigious B category collegiate mountain bike invitation only races in the cue for the next few weeks, followed by a little break. Then of course the inevitable return to an unnecessary seriousness about the mediocrity of my cycling, which will likely result in an embarrassingly large drop in social activity, academic merit, and just general well being. But maybe I'll get lucky and my FTP will increase 10 watts!</div><div><br /></div><div>Well that is all for now, it is official I guess that my season is over now and I must say it is a bit disappointing. For the first time in a couple years, I don't feel totally burnt this time of year. I can honestly say there was another couple chances to have a stab at it, but it's ok, the Gateway ride starts up in a couple months and surely that will allow enough chances to chase the glory! Ok, I'm really done this time! </div><div><br /></div>Nate Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12922197632677854023noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6090265311706374350.post-22303471523837851592011-07-11T11:54:00.001-07:002011-07-11T11:54:56.322-07:00tin cupanyone who hasn't seen tin cup should probably check it out, it's pretty much the best movie ever, kevin costner is a beast...just savor this little gem until you can roll yourself down to the local blockbuster and rent it.<div><br /></div><div><iframe width="425" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Tq0Agic51O0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>Nate Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12922197632677854023noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6090265311706374350.post-72167970081813579922011-06-24T04:45:00.000-07:002011-06-24T04:59:41.529-07:00update<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheieI497tyU9ZRQPtArtrAoHRly1Ru18DRPnedCPOahF_1P5QgytT8HbzvB71JtPNq-VFLHuvDarfggNPhW_XxZtJ-MPZaNuM0RSZWV1WbY5_kk6C_p7oGqYAw9qZ_h9shIvvdwxM2uig/s1600/06-03-11_Hood_stg1-3548.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><div>so yea its been a while, time for a little update action I suppose. I got back from europe kind of sick and had to take it easy for a bit, but it was super nice to be back in boulder training on the climbs and stuff again. I really missed it while I was in Belgium, the roads there are pretty flat. A few weeks after I was back I did the superior morgul classic, near Boulder. It was a pretty sweet race and I was lucky enough to pull off the solo win. It felt really good to get a solid result after just getting pounded in Europe for two months. Also, it was only the second senior race I have ever won, so it felt good to! I don't know how many people know this but I actually never won a race until I was a cat. 1, so every one I can get feels like a miracle!</div><div><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf0vCdgK0j0ZUolF4RAcMqX4UtUM5VtFHSdmoNeGx3uXplNPcWFrjpJD_Rl_Av6R9cMfOIIjncp7RYk_BRK-h81Lq8WXlByhn_DfXIUhbMfee-rScbHDQkFsYdMk_HQOZPqgr73wIyckc/s1600/MORGUL11-M.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 205px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf0vCdgK0j0ZUolF4RAcMqX4UtUM5VtFHSdmoNeGx3uXplNPcWFrjpJD_Rl_Av6R9cMfOIIjncp7RYk_BRK-h81Lq8WXlByhn_DfXIUhbMfee-rScbHDQkFsYdMk_HQOZPqgr73wIyckc/s320/MORGUL11-M.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621752265547330306" /></a><br /><div>After morgul I headed out to Hood River, OR for Mt. Hood stage race with the team. I was hoping to do well, and my form was good, but I think my lack of stage racing this year hurt me a little I just didn't have the big enough days. But overall it was a good race, I had a solid ITT which gave me some confidence and the team did super well with Staz winning the first stage and we put two guys in the final top 10 gc!</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheieI497tyU9ZRQPtArtrAoHRly1Ru18DRPnedCPOahF_1P5QgytT8HbzvB71JtPNq-VFLHuvDarfggNPhW_XxZtJ-MPZaNuM0RSZWV1WbY5_kk6C_p7oGqYAw9qZ_h9shIvvdwxM2uig/s320/06-03-11_Hood_stg1-3548.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621753419394094658" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></span></div><div>Pretty much right after Hood I headed home to VA to train in the heat for U23 Nationals in Georgia where it was definitely going to be super hot. It was a fun time at home and I did some more racing. I did the Tour of Mt. Nebo which was brutal...it was super hot and just a lot of hills. I got 2nd which was solid, but Scott Zwizanski lit me up pretty hard. Then just last weekend I got to do Tour of Washington County which was really awesome because I haven't really gotten to race with any of those guys all year, and Joe does such a great job putting it on. Also, I somehow won the TT there so that was really good for my confidence...and a bit of a surprise. It was a fun race, Kelly and Harley were really smashing it and GPOA was riding really well also, it was a pretty tough race with no teammates but made for a great last hard two days before Nationals I think.</div><div><br /></div><div>Yesterday was the TT here at U23 Nationals. Nate Brown did a great ride to win it, he's really flying right now. Trek had 3 in the top 4 which was very impressive, but Cal-Giant was really the only team to come close, we had 3 in the top 10 so that was pretty sweet! Eamon did a great ride in his first year u23 to go 3rd, Huffman was 6th and I was 9th.</div><div><br /></div><div>Well thats pretty much all for now, the crit is today and I think we have a great chance at the win!</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div>Nate Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12922197632677854023noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6090265311706374350.post-81342147776684369612011-04-25T08:07:00.000-07:002011-04-25T08:09:13.858-07:002 weeks to go!the racing trip has been going well, these races are hard. not getting any stellar results but learning a lot i think and getting good at slamming on the brakes and praying i dont crash into some crazy belgian pile up. two more weeks left to go, the last race we are doing over here is supposed to be pretty hilly so im hoping to end with a good result. but yea looking forward to coming back home and whatnot.Nate Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12922197632677854023noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6090265311706374350.post-34327834347960427612011-04-09T09:54:00.001-07:002011-04-09T09:59:13.004-07:00Probably not going to go down as my best day on a bike.Today we did Trofeo Edil a 1.2 in Italy. It wasn't good for me. Right before the race I found out we were not doing the race the next day, which was the one that had more climbing in it and I was really fired up for.<div><br /></div><div>Instead of getting more fired up for today's race since it was my only shot for the weekend, I had a terrible mentality. I just was so angry I didn't even want to race, I don't know why but it was bad. I got in one move early and after that got brought back I just wasn't in it at all. I rode the rest of the race in the bottom ten riders hoping I would get a flat. I'm embarrassed to admit it, but it was pathetic. I feel a lot better now that the race is over, but I just on an off day and I didn't want to fight for it.</div><div><br /></div><div>I feel bad, because I've wanted the opportunity I have now for almost 4 years and I definitely didn't show that today. The people I've always admired are the ones that go out there and suffer and race with pure class, I was not one of those people today. Sorry to get so heavy, but it just feels better to write it down and get some of it out of my head.</div>Nate Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12922197632677854023noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6090265311706374350.post-40053290064461252372011-04-09T09:54:00.000-07:002011-04-09T09:55:04.530-07:00Probably not going to go down as my best day on a bike.Nate Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12922197632677854023noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6090265311706374350.post-33338485813290716392011-04-08T03:26:00.000-07:002011-04-08T03:36:36.747-07:00no titleI've been trying to make some posts lately, but every time I get on here I can't think of a title so I just say screw it and write nothing.<div><br /></div><div>The racing over here has been good, it's been hard. So far I've done three one day races in Belgium and one day in Italy. The racing in Belgium was hard, really hard. The first race we did was an all flat circuit race, that was 150k. There was no wind so it was not really a hard race sitting it, but it was very fast, we averaged 46km/hr. The next race we did was kind of crazy it was the u23 version of dwaars door vlaanderen and there were 320 guys in our field, it was insane! I felt good but ultimately wasted too much energy not being in the front and ended up not making the front selection. The next race we did was probably my best in Belgium, I was very aggressive and spent a decent amount of time solo off the front, but i ended up crashing out.</div><div><br /></div><div>All the cliche things that people say about racing in Belgium are pretty much true. If you're not moving up you're moving back. Cobbles are really hard. It's super aggressive. The roads are really narrow, and it makes for difficult racing since they are littered with traffic islands, round abouts, etc. </div><div><br /></div><div>The race we did in Italy was a lot of fun. It was a hard race, it was a circuit race with a 2.5km climb each lap. 170km was the distance. It was a 1.2 u23 and is one of the bigger and tougher one days in Italy. 200 guys started but it was definitely a day of attrition, only 60 finished and only 2 USA guys. I finished, but that was about all, there was a break of 20 that stayed away and then the pack behind. I felt pretty good, but honestly it was almost everything I had to just keep making the splits to stay in the bunch. I'm hoping I'll get a decent little boost from such a hard race though. Training is going well and now that I've been able to get a little consistency for the first time in months I feel like the form is starting to creep up. </div><div><br /></div><div>This weekend they are doing 2 more one days back to back in Italy. The courses look hard. Sunday has a tough 5k climb that tops out 10k from the finish. I'm hoping to be feeling good and give it a go, I'd really like to get a top 10 or top 20 before I leave. But otherwise all is good, Italy is beautiful. Belgium is not bad though either, the u23 house definitely does not eat one's soul the way some people might make it out to. After these races I'm in Belgium the rest of the stay. </div><div><br /></div><div>Sounds like the weather has been crazy back home. Good luck to everyone doing Battenkill this weekend, especially HPC in the juniors and Kelly in the 1/2 race.</div>Nate Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12922197632677854023noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6090265311706374350.post-40152285229060551752011-04-03T13:07:00.000-07:002011-04-03T13:08:44.263-07:00i had a pretty good race today...but some days i just wish i was faster...something ive been thinking about lately, some guys are just so fast, it feels like the first time ive realized it even though ive been getting beat since i started racing bikesNate Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12922197632677854023noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6090265311706374350.post-31876578519970881332011-03-21T01:43:00.000-07:002011-03-21T01:46:02.035-07:00Belgians work really hard.Our mechanic for the race yesterday was a Belgian named Peter. He works for USA Cycling as a mechanic for the National Team over in Belgium. He was at the house early in the morning and then at the race all day with us, including waiting over an hour after the race ended to collect prize money. He had to rush home though because he had work to do at the bike shop, which he owns. Although, he also wanted to get to bed as soon as possible, because he had to get up early to go to work at the steel plant. What a relaxing Sunday.Nate Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12922197632677854023noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6090265311706374350.post-46487116017218366062011-03-11T04:09:00.000-08:002011-03-11T04:19:27.645-08:00BelgiumLots of stuff to catch up on since I last wrote. I was in California for a little team camp. It was pretty good, got some good riding in on the new bike with the new guys. Everyone is super awesome and it was a good time. We did Merco stage race, which was a lot of fun and a good opener to the season. I felt decent not super awesome, but the team did well with John Bennett taking the best young rider jersey. I had a kind of rough day the last day, crashing and breaking my fork. I raced a bit longer on the spare bike but ended up getting in the car. Now I'm in Belgium for a two month long block with the US U23 team. I'm looking forward to it. Right now Belgium is pretty warm and sunny, but windy. Luckily we won't have to deal with it for too long, because in another day we're flying to Lucca, Italy to do a little training camp down there before the racing starts. I'll be having plenty of free time while I'm here so I'll do my best to keep the blog updated, in an effort to convince myself that people read this. Right now I've got a little cold but I think I'm on the upswing, so I'm pretty convinced for this camp in Italy. I've always wanted to go there and I've heard that just about everything in Lucca is awesome.Nate Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12922197632677854023noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6090265311706374350.post-3038445266354714182011-02-08T12:31:00.001-08:002011-02-08T13:55:07.236-08:00Ya gotta move up, it's getting hectic.It's been a bit of a long month and a half, but this time next week I should be back in Boulder and have my broken jaw mostly behind me. Last Wednesday I had surgery to get some plates and screws that were in my jaw removed. Then tomorrow I get the final screws taken out. I am looking forward to being done with it. However, from that point onward things aren't really settling down, really just speeding up. <div><br /></div><div>Unfortunately I'm only going to be in Boulder for about 10 days. I love it in Boulder, I love my apartment, I get motivated to train harder in Boulder seeing all the fast people. But yeah, I'll be in Boulder for 10 days with nothing to do but train. It's not as much time as I would've liked, but hopefully I can finally get one good block and get some fitness going. After that I'm going to California for 9 days for a camp with Cal-Giant. It should be really good, and I'm excited to meet everybody. All the interactions have been so professional so far. I don't want to come off like a jerk, though it could be far too late, but it's really awesome just not having to worry about things. Not having to worry about having a bike to ride, and not having to worry about booking flights. I should mention though that I would not have even been able to train for the past month and a half if it hadn't been for November Bicycles. They gave me a bike to ride and while I'm looking forward to getting my Specialized it has truly been a joy riding the November. There is something special about those grass roots companies that I think sometimes do a lot more for the sport than the big corporate engines. Check them out at www.novemberbicycles.com</div><div><br /></div><div>After California I've got a lot of travel. I'm flying from California to Denver, then from Denver to DC. Then I'm at home at DC for one day to see a doctor. The next day, March 10, I fly from DC to Brussels, Belgium. I'll be in Belgium from March 11-May 9 racing with the National Team. My feelings about it are interesting I would say. For the past couple of years I wanted it so bad, and imagined how great it would feel once it happened. However, now that I am going in just a month I'm not sure how I feel about it. I wish I hadn't crashed and broken my jaw before going, most of all I am just unsure. I am excited, but at the same time I am nervous. But I have my schedule and it looks like a lot of good races, some hilly races so hopefully I can go fast in those. For anyone interested the schedule of races over there is:</div><div><br /></div><div>March 20- GP Wilfried Pieters</div><div>March 27- Aalst-St. Truiden</div><div>April 8-10- Circuit des Ardennes</div><div>April 13- Cote Picarde</div><div>April 16- ZLM Tour</div><div>April 18- Zellik</div><div>April 24- Affligem</div><div>May 1- Hoboken</div><div>May 8- Circuit Wallonie</div><div><br /></div><div>It should be good, and hopefully I'll return with some form rather than shattered to pieces.</div>Nate Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12922197632677854023noreply@blogger.com3