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Chocolate, Waffles and 'Cross: A day in the life

By Brandon Dwight, Boulder Cycle Sport
Published: Dec. 5, 2006
Locked and loaded
Locked and loaded

I normally don’t enjoy writing journal articles about my day-to-day activities, because I think it would be quite boring. However, today is a bit different for me because it’s Sunday and I had the day off from the bike shop, so I thought I’d give you a peek at a day off from work in the life of a shop owner and cyclo-cross racer.

7:30 a.m.
There’s nothing like waking up to some bright Colorado morning sunshine. Although the sun is shining, it has been quite cold here in Boulder and snow that fell earlier in the week has yet to melt. My girlfriend Heather and I walked our dog, Oban, through the neighborhood and picked up the Sunday paper. Oban pooped, peed, played in the snow while we made our way back home for breakfast. Even though this journal title has the word “waffle” in it, my favorite breakfast food is pancakes, so we made some tasty flapjacks, drank some coffee and read the paper.

9:30 a.m.
Even though today was technically a day off for me from Boulder Cycle Sport, I spent the rest of the morning working on the shop website, answering emails and getting things ready for the upcoming fundraiser on Wednesday evening.

11:30 a.m.
Time to get ready for the race. I went out the to my garage to gather everything I might need for today’s muddy race. Two bikes, check. Bucket and brushes, check. Pump, check. Stationary trainer and road bike rear wheel, check. Then to my closet. Helmet, shoes, jersey shorts, socks, check. Long sleeve jersey, jacket and vest, check. Long sleeve, short sleeve, sleeveless base layers, check. Five glove options, check. Booties, check. Waterproof pants, check. Three pair of Oakley glasses with different lens tints, check. Once all that was in the car it was time to leave. Crap, I forgot my digital camera and cell phone.

12:30 p.m.
First stop was the bike shop’s storage unit to pick up some 2007 Cannondales and take them to the shop so the rigs could be built by our mechanics today. Plus, I had to drop of the shop’s holiday decorations, which still need to be put up.

The best pre-race food in the world
The best pre-race food in the world

1 p.m.
Whenever there is a local race I always like to swing by a nearby grocery store and get one of my favorite muffins. I personally think this is the best tasting muffin on the planet, and trust me I have eaten a lot of muffins during my travels. Muffin, check. Second cup of coffee, check.

2 p.m.
I arrived at the race course a little bit behind schedule, but the track was so muddy I only wanted to ride a couple of laps anyway. When I stepped out of the car, race announcer Dave Towle was yelping at the top of his lungs while the masters’ men and Luna Chix rider Georgia Gould battled it out in the mud, ice and snow. I think Georgia was prepping for upcoming ‘cross nationals. Some embarrassed masters’ men, check.

2:15 p.m.
Today’s race venue is nestled along the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. At 2:15, when I rode a few laps, the sun was shining on the course, keeping conditions wet and muddy. At 3:10, when the race starts, the sun will be shining on the course, keeping conditions wet and muddy. At 3:40, when the sun goes behind the mountains, the air gets cold and the wet and muddy course turns icy and downright treacherous. The course I was riding now was not the one I would be racing on. Low tire pressure, check.

2:30 p.m.
I switched out my rear wheel and threw my bike on the stationary trainer for a warm-up while I decided which of three base layers and five pairs of gloves I should go with. Short sleeve base layer, Pearl Izumi Cyclone glove, check.

2:45 p.m.
Time for a quick trip to the port-o-pottie.

3:10 p.m.
Race begins.

Yuck
Yuck

3:17 p.m.
Spontaneously unclip from my pedal while bunny-hopping a barrier and nearly ruin the family jewels.

3:18 p.m.
Crash on an off-camber icy section.

3:26 p.m.
Crash again on the same off-camber icy section. Hematoma on right hip, check.

3:44 p.m.
WatchVeloNews technical writer Matt Pacocha fly by me like I was standing still on the same off-camber icy section.

3:51 p.m.
Watch junior superstar Danny Summerhill nearly drop me. Bruised ego, check.

4:10 p.m.
Finish race in third place. Cold fingers and toes, check.

4:15 p.m.
After grabbing my clean spare bike from the pit, I loaded up the truck, stripped out of my muddy clothes and made my way back to Boulder.

This load needs the heavy-duty cycle
This load needs the heavy-duty cycle

5:15 p.m.
I was lucky enough to not switch bikes during the event, but my race bike was completely caked with mud and ice, so I had to make a quick pit stop at the power washer. Six bucks in quarters down the drain, check.

5:45 p.m.
Not many people know this, but my home is very close to my bike shop. This is sometimes a blessing and sometimes a curse. Tonight it was a blessing. I quickly swung by the house, dropped off my gear and cruised back to the bike shop for a quick staff meeting. Hunger pangs, check.

7:30 p.m.
With the not-so-quick meeting over, I made my way back home, threw my dirty race clothes in the washing machine, jumped in the shower to wash the mud off my body, helmet and shoes. Clogged drain, check.

8 p.m.
Luckily the refrigerator was well stocked, so Heather and I whipped up a tasty meal and enjoyed a little down time. Hunger pangs gone, check.

9 p.m.
Recap the day’s events for VeloNews.com readers.

10 p.m.
Time for bed. Dessert first, check.

Not bad for a day off, huh?

Thanks for reading.


Brandon Dwight lives in Boulder, Colorado and is part owner of BoulderCycle Sport. He is also the founder of Doperssuck.com.Sponsors include: Scott Bicycles, Shimano, Zipp, Cycle-Ops, Crank Brothers, Clif Bar, Fizik, Challenge, Chris King and Ritchey.

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